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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
Reading Time:3 minutes
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He Huifengin Guangdong
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.
Fang runs a pig farm in Zhumadian in the central Chinese province of Henan, but at the moment is unwilling raise more pigs due to fears of African swine fever, the deadly virus that could kill up to half of China’s pig population, despite it leading to soaring pork prices.
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.
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“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
As China reels from the largest disruption to its pig farming industry that is causing a plunge in supply and a surge in prices, Beijing is scrambling to encourage pig production. But for Chinese pig farmers who have survived financial losses, environmental policy restrictions and African swine fever itself, it is not an easy option to simply expand.
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