• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The members of the Alliance of Hog Raisers Association of Negros Occidental (AHRANO) hope to recover their losses from the effects of African Swine Fever (ASF) this upcoming holiday season, as the live weight and market prices of pork are expected to rise.
AHRANO President Rick Lauron said after their meeting yesterday that the prices of pork are projected to increase from November until December, due to the expected rise in demand.
“We are projecting that raisers can recover their profit in November and December because of the demand, which will also trigger the prices to increase,” he explained.
He further said that the raisers are now doubling their stocks in preparation for the holiday season.
“Our multiplier and backyard farms are collaborating to have enough supply for the upcoming months, and they are doubling their stocks in preparation for the demand,” he said, assuring that there will be enough local supply of pork in the province.
LIVE WEIGHT PRICES
The price of live weight in the province has dropped by at least P5 to P10 per kilogram, according to Lauron.
Live weight prices are running from P150 to P160, which is lower than the P160-165 from previous months. However, despite the decrease, the price in several markets is still high.
Lauron reported that, as per monitoring, pork prices in Himamaylan and Binalbagan averaged from P300 to P320, while in some markets in Bacolod City it was P280 to P300 per kilo. He clarified that the prices vary in different areas.
“The prices of live weight are still subject to the transaction of the raisers and their buyers. Sometimes, due to the sufficient supply, butchers in the market were tempted to lower their prices just to sell their stocks,” he explained.
Even with the recently reported price of live weight, Lauron said that raisers were still not able to profit due to the expensive inputs in raising hogs.*
