China’s ‘heartbroken’ pig farmers torn apart by pork price spike and African swine fever
- The disease has already contributed to China losing more than 100 million pigs over the last year, and the deadly virus could kill up to half of China’s pig population
- This has led to pork prices rising 46.7 per cent in August from a year earlier, with farmers fearful of restocking due to the threat of the deadly disease
To raise or not to raise? That is the question for Chinese farmers like Fang Xinlun as doing business in the world’s largest pig farming industry has recently become more of a gamble.
He does not allow outsiders to even get close to his pig farm, including friends or relatives, due to fears of contamination from a disease that has already contributed to China losing more than 100 million pigs over the last year.
“Me and my family haven’t had a meal at any restaurants for months because the food outside may contain the virus. I can’t afford to take any chances,” he said.
Me and my family haven’t had a meal at any restaurants for months because the food outside may contain the virus. I can’t afford taking any chances
Liang Liyong, who runs a farm of around a few thousand pigs in Jian in the southern Jiangxi province, feels helplessness due to the threat of African swine fever.
“It’s entirely up to ourselves to judge whether we should raise more [pigs] or not, but the risk is our own,” Liang said.