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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Importation not solution to rising food prices --food producers

Importation not solution to rising food prices --food producers

Published Jan 20, 2021 07:36 pm

For farmers and food producers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) must focus on boosting local food production instead of resorting to importation as solution to the soaring food prices.

Speaking in an online medium forum, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the United Broilers Association (UBRA), and the Samahan ng Industriya at Agrikultura (SINAG) were one in opposing the government’s importation policy.

“The DA always resorts to importation as a default fix-it-all but this is not the viable long-term solution to problems on the production, supply, and demand side of food production,” said KMP leader Rafael Mariano.

Mariano, a former Agrarian Reform secretary, asserted how high food prices resulted from the “full deregulation and liberalization” of domestic agriculture, poultry, and livestock industries.

The DA announced the planned importation of 54,000 metric tons of pork from the US and European countries to address the shortage of domestic pork supply.

Prices of vegetables, chicken, and pork have surged as the African Swine Fever (ASF) affected the pork supply while the consecutive typhoons adversely impacted the supply of farm goods.

Consumers even complained that actual market prices of food are higher than government Suggested Retail Prices (SRP) prices. 

In the past weeks, prices of pork soared to as much as P350 to P400 per kilo in the local markets due to the effects of ASF. 

UBRA President Bong Inciong said the government favors importation more than supporting local livestock and broiler breeders. 

Inciong made a recommendation for the DA to intervene on the demand side of poultry and chicken products. 

Last year the importation of chicken was at 18 percent while local broiler production receded by 30 percent, he noted.

SINAG chair Rosendo So said the government must ensure the safety of local borders to stop the spread of ASF and give confidence to hog raisers. 

He cited that out of the 13.8 million pig heads nationwide, only half are left due to the widespread effects of ASF. 

So said that hog raisers affected by ASF did not receive enough assistance and subsidies from the DA. 

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