Philippine Hog Industry Eyes Recovery Amid ASF Challenges

In the face of ongoing battles with African swine fever (ASF), the Philippine hog industry is on a path to recovery, with expectations of a modest increase in production for 2024. Chester Warren Tan, president of the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc., revealed projections of a 3 percent growth in domestic hog output, highlighting a resilient stride towards improvement despite the persistent threat of ASF.

As of the end of September 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported a slight dip in the total swine inventory to 9.86 million heads, a 2.1 percent decrease. This number still falls short of the pre-ASF outbreak levels, which boasted around 13 million heads. However, the year 2023 saw an uptick in local hog production, reaching 1.79 million metric tons, up from 1.73 million metric tons in the previous year, signaling a slow but steady path to resurgence.

The hog industry received a significant morale boost from setting a new Guinness World Record for the most variety of pork dishes on display, an achievement that underscores the cultural and economic importance of pork in the country and encourages local hog raisers to ramp up their production efforts.

Adding to the optimism, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. expressed confidence in the nation’s gradual progress towards eradicating ASF. The potential accreditation of at least one vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within the year, with two firms currently awaiting approval and two more expected to apply, marks a crucial step forward in the fight against the disease. Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasized the collaborative efforts between the FDA and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in bringing these vaccines to the market, offering a glimmer of hope for the industry’s future.

This hopeful outlook for 2024 comes amidst the backdrop of extended lower import rates on essential agricultural commodities, including rice, corn, and meat, until December 2024, which aims to stabilize prices and support recovery efforts across the agricultural sector.