To date, the epidemic has hit 23 cities and provinces in the northern and central regions of Vietnam with around 100,000 pigs culled, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
Pork prices have fallen in many Vietnamese localities as African swine fever continues to spread
According to the MARD’s Agro Processing and Market Development Department, live pig prices in northern localities dropped by VND3,000-5,000 to VND35,000-38,000 (USD1.52-1.65) per kilo in March.
The central region saw the same fall with VND38,000 per kilo for live pigs. Meanwhile, live pig prices in southern localities declined by VND6,000-10,000 to VND40,000-46,000 per kilo.
Some localities witnessed a very sharp fall in live pig prices at just VND31,000-32,000 per kilo as people turned their backs on pork over fears about African swine fever.
However, after it was communicated that people cannot be infected by the disease, pork prices have trended higher by around VND10,000 per kilo.
The MARD expressed concern about the continued pork price decrease if no more action is taken to help raise public awareness about the epidemic so that they would not boycott pork.
The mass cull of pigs has seriously affected the pig breeding sector. Hanoi is currently home to around 1.5 million pigs, down 3.2% on-year. The city’s live pig productivity in the first quarter of this year was estimated at 84,000 tonnes, down 1.7% on-year.
The MARD advised people not to expand their pig breeding, instead of focusing on African swine fever prevention and control.