Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for measures to boost pig
farming as short supply has led to continued pork price hikes,
causing concerns among consumers and the government over a possible
spillover effect on inflation.
Wen urged local governments to leave no stone unturned in
enhancing the enthusiasm of pig breeders when addressing an
executive conference of the State Council on Wednesday.
The country's pig production fell dramatically in recent months
on pig breeders' dampened enthusiasm due to rising feedstuff costs
and low price in past few years, and also the massive pig culling
after the outbreak of blue-ear disease in some regions.
The short supply of live pigs kept driving the pork price
higher. The wholesale price of pork in June represented a
74.6-percent surge from the same month last year.
Wen said it's of great importance to increase pig production,
which would help stabilize the pork price and satisfy the meat
demand of the public.
He called on local governments to deliver the subsidies for
breeding female pigs to farmers arranged by the central budget "as
soon as possible".
In order to beef up disease control, Wen said immunization
against major pig epidemics shall be provided to farmers free of
charges, and that subsidies shall be offered to farmers if their
pigs have to be slaughtered for disease control.
The premier said local administrative chiefs shall be held
responsible for pork supply in their areas, and that all
unreasonable restrictions on pig farming shall be abolished.
Local governments shall also increase or pay allowances for
lower-income families and college students to ensure their living
standards are not adversely affected by the higher pork prices, Wen
said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2007)