Pork prices have increased sharply, is it because businesses are 'inflating' prices?

Businesses still strongly restock

The impact of African swine fever has caused pork prices to increase dramatically in recent months, from 30,000 VND to 85,000 VND/kg. According to experts, there are many reasons for the sharp increase in pork prices, including hoarding and price inflation.

Currently in Nghe An, there are still many farms that maintain large herds with large numbers. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Dang Van Minh - Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine said: Before the African swine fever epidemic broke out, Nghe An had about 900,000 pigs. After 7 months of the epidemic, Nghe An destroyed nearly 94,000 pigs, accounting for about 10% of the total herd. But the total weight destroyed was 4,735,727 kg, accounting for only 3.62% of the total output of live weight meat for slaughter.

As of December 27, in Nghe An, 80% of 366 communes have been free of the epidemic. Currently, there are 70 communes that have not passed 30 days of the epidemic, of which most have passed 15-20 days of the epidemic.

Regarding herd restoration after the epidemic, Mr. Dang Van Minh said that the number of infected pigs in Nghe An in the past time was mainly small-scale households and some farms. According to regulations, for small-scale households and farms, if they do not meet the requirements for epidemic prevention, they are not allowed to restore their herds. Therefore, herd restoration after the epidemic is mainly done by large farms and enterprises. Therefore, enterprises and large farms in the province are the main source of pork supply at present and during the upcoming Tet holiday.

Pork prices have skyrocketed in recent months. Photo: Quang An

Use frozen meat to prevent price inflation

Mr. Doan Tri Tue - Former Head of Technical Department (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) said: The number of pigs destroyed due to African swine fever recently was mainly from small-scale farms in residential areas. Currently, people have not been able to re-herd. Therefore, taking this opportunity, pig farming enterprises have hoarded goods and inflated prices. Therefore, the price of pork on the market has skyrocketed in recent months.

According to Mr. Doan Tri Tue, one of the solutions to prevent price "inflation" is for consumers to use frozen pork. Currently, frozen pork is imported in large quantities and still ensures nutrition.

Faced with rising pork prices, many people have started to switch to eating frozen pork. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Recently, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that core enterprises not only supply the best breeding and food products but also must lead the market according to the market's plan. Accordingly, do not set prices too high, it will "hit you in the back". Because if the price is too high, consumers will choose other foods. At the same time, when the price is too high, goods from other places will flood in, at that time we will lose the market right at home.

Regarding the food supply for Tet and the months after Tet, Minister Cuong said there are very positive signs. Localities are focusing on herd restoration, diversifying food sources such as poultry, large livestock, aquatic products, etc. The amount of goods supplied from now until Tet is increasing. Moreover, people have learned from the recent African swine fever epidemic, so hygiene and safety are very strict, especially in environmental treatment. That proves that people have raised awareness, so herd restoration will reduce the risk of disease and reduce the risk of pork shortage at the end of the year.