People need to be careful to increase their pig herds when listening to rumors.

Information that pig exports to China have resumed is inaccurate and could cause farmers to suffer losses if they rush to increase their herds.

In recent days, information has emerged that pig exports to China have been reopened, and pig prices will increase. However, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, this information is inaccurate and could cause farmers to suffer losses if they rush to increase their herds.

Many farmers are wondering whether they should increase their herds again or not? However, according to experts in the livestock sector, the supply of live pigs is still abundant, and farmers increasing their herds will lead to heavy losses.

Pork prices increase according to rumors

Farmer Nguyen Van Thanh, in Phu Cu, Hung Yen said: "In recent days, there has been information that pig exports to China are showing signs of progress. I am very happy, but this information is just word of mouth and has not been verified. In recent days, pig prices have shown signs of a slight recovery, so I decided to sell 70 pigs weighing 160 - 200 kg/head. Currently, traders are paying 32,000 - 34,000 VND/kg for pigs."

Pig farmers are confused by the rumors. Photo: VNA

According to farmer Vu Trong Trung, Thuy Nguyen, Hai Phong, recently, pig farmers have been spreading the word that pig prices are increasing, and exporting to China will be more favorable. However, farmers are still very confused, not knowing if this information is true or just a rumor.

“Because if we increase the herd immediately without an outlet, the situation will repeat itself like at the beginning of this year. If we do not increase the herd, when prices increase, there will be no pigs to sell. Therefore, we are still waiting and learning carefully before increasing or maintaining the current herd,” Mr. Trung added.

Sharing the same sentiment with Mr. Trung, Mr. Quang Tuan's family in Hiep Hoa, Bac Giang is also wondering about the news that China is importing live pigs again. "The information has appeared on the market, but we do not know the truth yet. Therefore, we are just waiting and waiting, not daring to increase the herd. Because if we increase the herd but cannot sell, we will fall into debt, and we do not know how to pay. All the capital has gone with the pigs since the first months of 2017," Mr. Tuan said.

In recent days, the price of live pigs has shown signs of a slight recovery. In some northern provinces such as Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Bac Giang, Hai Phong... the price of live pigs has increased from 29,000 - 30,000 VND/kg to 32,000 - 34,000 VND/kg. However, in the livestock capital of Dong Nai, the price of live pigs remains low at 29,000 - 32,000 VND/kg.

Don't rush to increase pig herd

According to agricultural experts, the supply of pork on the market is still abundant. Meanwhile, the direction of export through official and unofficial channels has not shown any positive signs. Therefore, farmers should not increase their herds massively to avoid falling into a downward spiral of prices like in the first months of 2017.

To prove this information, Mr. Nguyen Kim Doan, Vice President of Dong Nai Livestock Association, said that every day, more than 10,000 pigs are transported to Binh Dien and Tan Xuan wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City. This proves that the number of pigs is still too much surplus. Previously, on average, these two wholesale markets only imported about 6,000 - 7,000 pigs per day.

According to Mr. Doan, in early July 2017, the price of live pigs increased dramatically, nearly doubling. But immediately after that, the amount of live pigs smuggled into the market increased rapidly, causing the price to drop again. This proves that the supply of live pigs in the people and in livestock companies is still very large.

Moreover, in the past, Vietnam exported 3,000 - 4,000 live pigs to China every day through unofficial channels. But now, almost no pigs are exported. Therefore, the price of live pigs in Dong Nai has dropped below 30,000 VND/kg at times. This shows that the supply is abundant. Therefore, farmers should not increase their herds at this time.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Duong, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry, also affirmed that the information about exporting pigs to China is incorrect, the current price of pigs is at 34,000 - 36,000 VND/kg, which is break-even and not a loss. Therefore, people should not increase their herds at this time.

Regarding negotiations on official pork exports to China, Mr. Duong said the livestock industry is trying its best, but it will take a long time to resolve./.

According to VOV