Spiralling Price Of Pork Hits Vientiane Consumers

Source: Vientiane Times

Households in Vientiane are suffering additional financial hardship as the price of pork rises yet again, taking the market price to yet another record high.

The market price has risen because of higher production costs across the industry, including the higher cost of pig feed, piglets, and transport, coupled with rising inflation rates and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Director of the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department, Dr Lasay Nouanthasing, said.

Many farmers are now selling their pigs to neighbouring countries, where demand is high, he added.

Some farmers have given up pig breeding because they cannot expand their business, while some companies have moved their operations to other provinces as the regulations governing the industry are not standardised, Dr Lasay said.

Another issue is that the supply of breeding pairs, as well as piglets, is insufficient for farmers’ needs. Most farmers still run a family-based business, are not part of a group, and don’t have a stable market, he added.

To resolve the problems faced by both farmers and consumers, especially the high market price of pork, the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department is rolling out new measures such as establishing pig breeding groups in order bolster the supply of pork to the domestic market.

This aims to separate the breeding and supply of pigs under uniform management. The goal is to raise 3,000 female pigs and to encourage farmers who shut down their businesses to resume farming under special policies.