THE Department of Agriculture (DA) assured there is enough meat to feed the country amid growing concerns on the supply of chicken and pork.
“Contrary to recent projections painting a deficit scenario of the country’s meat sector, we are pleased to report… we have a favorable outlook despite difficulties encountered last year, especially for pork, due to the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak,” said William Dar, DA secretary.
Dar said in a statement based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority and consultations with industry stakeholders, chicken will have an ending stock good for 62 days by June and pork good for 10 days by the said date.
He said chicken supply is also expected to surpass the annual requirement of 1.3 million metric tons (MT) by 24 percent, equivalent to more than 400,000 MT, assuring an inventory good for 157 days by January 2021.
According to Dar, pork producers are currently facing an oversupply, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao as cold storage facilities are also filled with pork meat.
However, he said the country’s pork supply remains a challenge, as the Asian Outlook 2020 and the National Meat Inspection Service forecast a deficit of around 121,000 MT.
“We acknowledge the projected deficit in pork that is why we are rolling out interventions to increase swine production this early. We are requesting funds under the Plant, Plant, Plant Program to incrementioned efforts to intensify hog raising in ASF-free areas and implement an urban agriculture project.
The DA forecasts, based on field reports and consultations with hog and poultry industry stakeholders, show 11 regions will enjoy chicken surplus throughout the year while seven regions will produce more pork than their respective requirements.
No to imports
Meanwhile, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) has criticized anew the DA and the National Food Authority’s “pro-import stance” amid the pandemic, warning that this will discourage farmers from planting and make the country even more dependent on foreign suppliers for its food requirements.
“It is encouraging farmers to expand their production and enticing them with loans, subsidies and other incentives. On the other hand, it is leaving the room open for private importers to bring in unlimited volumes of rice from abroad. The DA was even the one who proposed that government import another 300,000 MT. It appears that the DA just wants to flood the market with rice and is not really concerned about what happens to farmers in the process,” said Raul Montemayor, FFF national manager.
Montemayor in a statement said most private traders are not importers and that many of them were also affected with the unimpeded entry of rice imports last year.
“Many traders lost a lot of money last year because they had to suspend their operations when imports flooded the market and displaced local rice. These private businesses have invested a lot of money in their mills, warehouses, trucks, personnel and operations. Encouraging them to just import means asking them to throw away most of these investments,” Montemayor said.
Conglomerates respond
Amid the uncertainties, listed conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is looking to tap more farmers nationwide to supply raw material for its food products as well as help sustain farm incomes in the countryside and secure food supply.
“We are looking for ways to be able to tap more farmers for rice production, corn, cassava, coconut oil, pork, chicken, among others. Through this, we hope to be able to support the livelihood of our farmers and secure our future supply of food,” Ramon Ang, SMC president and chief operating officer, said.
Such move will also generate economic activity across the food value chain involving not only farmers but a web of players from suppliers of agricultural inputs, processing facilities, shipping to retailers, among others, SMC said.
In recent weeks, the company has intensified buying of cassava from over 17,000 farmers nationwide through 130 assemblers.
“Right now, we have more than enough inventory for our present needs, up to over six months, but we will still buy their produce, so we can further ensure supply. This will also allow us to start preparing for the succeeding months,” Ang said.
However, he mentioned that all players would need to strictly enforce safety practices to protect the supply chain workforce, as the country continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
es to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the other hand, SM Foundation Inc.’s (SMFI) Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program is now being implemented during this summer season to benefit farmer-trainees looking for innovative ways to process their raw vegetables and sell their crops amid the ECQ.
SMFI assistant vice president for outreach programs, Cristie Angeles expressed that KSK project partner, Maricon Mills has gathered unsold chili, mangoes, tomatoes and cucumber to process them into pickles and candies for value adding.
Another project parner RiceUp, meanwhile started efforts to purchase farm produce in Pampanga.
SM Foundation Inc.’s (SMFI) Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program is now being implemented during this summer season to benefit farmer-trainees looking for innovative ways to process their raw vegetables and sell their crops amid the ECQ.
Cristie Angeles, SMFI assistant vice president for outreach programs, said KSK project partner, Maricon Mills has gathered unsold chili, mangoes, tomatoes and cucumber to process them into pickles and candies for value adding.
Another project partner RiceUp, meanwhile started efforts to purchase farm produce in Pampanga.
