The country’s pork self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) last year plunged to 74.3 percent, the lowest level in more than three decades, as African swine fever reduced domestic output and caused imports to hit record high.
Latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed that pork SSR in 2021 was significantly lower than the 91 percent rate recorded in 2020.
Historical PSA data showed that the pork SSR last year was the lowest on record or since 1988. It was also the first time that the country’s pork SSR fell below the 80 percent level.
The PSA defines SSR as the “magnitude of production in relation to domestic utilization.”
It is the extent to which a country’s supply of commodities is derived from its domestic production or the extent to which a country relies on its own production resources.
“The higher the ratio, the greater the self-sufficiency,” the PSA said.
The country’s pork SSR has been affected by havoc unleashed by ASF on commercial and backyard hog farms nationwide. The dreaded hog disease has killed nearly 4 million pigs since 2019.
Local pork production volume last year declined by a fifth on an annual basis to 1.43 million metric tons (MMT), the lowest level in 19 years, based on historical PSA data.
“For the period 2019 to 2021, pork production decreased annually by an average of -13.8 percent,” the PSA said.
“It exhibited a downtrend from 1.94 million metric tons in 2019 to 1.43 million metric tons in 2021,” it added.
Meanwhile, total pork imports in 2021 skyrocketed to a record-high volume of 494,789 metric tons (MT), more than double the 179,669 MT recorded in 2020, PSA data showed.
“Importation of pork was highest in 2021 at 494.79 thousand metric tons and lowest in 2020 at 179.67 thousand metric tons. It averaged 320.32 thousand metric tons during the reference period,” the PSA said.
PSA data also showed that the country’s hog industry is seeing signs of recovery this year as both output and inventory posted increments on a year-on-year basis.
As of October 1, the country’s total hog inventory nationwide rose by 2.08 percent on an annual basis to 10 million heads. PSA data showed that this was the first time in two years that the country’s pig herd reached 10 million since ASF first struck hog farms in 2019.
Likewise, local hog production from January to September grew by 2.07 percent to 1.271 MMT from 1.245 MMT recorded in the same 9-month period of last year, PSA data showed.
In a recent statement, the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. (ProPork) said it has “agreed” to support the Department of Agriculture’s programs to support and boost the local pork industry.
“[Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo F.] Panganiban said we can always come to him if we have concerns that need to be addressed,” ProPork President Rolando Tambago said.
“We look forward to working with him and the rest of his team, [Bureau of Animal Industry] and [National Meat Inspection Service]. We truly hope that this will start a more cooperative setup for the betterment of our industry,” Tambago added.
Tambago pointed out that the local pork industry is still reeling from the effects of ASF.
“Many people rely on the industry for their livelihood so it is important to keep them going. Unfortunately, the losses have been very hard on a lot of us,” he said.