Cambodia Set to Face Shortage of Pigs
Srun Pov, the association’s president, said that pig farmers are leaving the profession in the wake of massive losses, with pork prices dropping to 1,000 riel—roughly $0.25—per kilo.
- By Chhum Chantha
- and Sam Sopich
- January 17, 2022 7:45 PM
African Swine Flu outbreaks in the region and volatile market has seen pig farmers leaving the profession, while Cambodia’s pork supplies are expected to run low for up to a year
PHNOM PENH--The Cambodia Livestock Raisers Association has warned of an impending pork shortage after thousands of pigs across the region have died, with African Swine Flu thought to be the cause in neighboring Thailand and Vietnam.
Srun Pov, the association’s president, said that pig farmers are leaving the profession in the wake of massive losses, with pork prices dropping to 1,000 riel—roughly $0.25—per kilo. This, Pov said, is unsustainable as pig farmers need at least 1,200 riel per kilo to turn a profit on the average pig.
“The prices have only recently risen, but our pigs are fewer. Not only has the cost [of rearing pigs] gone up, but there was also a shortage of pork to supply the market because our farmers were affected by the disease,” Pov said. “Cambodia is almost out of pigs, Thailand and Vietnam are also short on pigs to supply, so we cannot rely on imports.”
The African Swine Flu outbreaks in Thailand and Vietnam has led to a rise in local demand. Farmers suspected the disease had spread to Cambodia earlier this month, but now Pov said that the shortage of supply could last for the rest of the year due to declining domestic and international pig supplies.
Despite this impending shortage, Pov called on the government to uphold a ban on the import of live pigs, saying imported swine could pose an infection risk and further upend the pig farming business in Cambodia.
“For 20 years, Cambodia has been importing pigs from Thailand and Vietnam. What if those two countries have an outbreak of disease, what can we hope for?” he asked. “If we dare to bring frozen meat in, it will bring disease to the country, which will affect the people, especially the farmers."
Minister of Agriculture Veng Sakhon on Jan. 4 said that most of the dead pigs were caused by the African Swine Fever, but blamed what he called careless farming techniques for the recent spate of deaths on Cambodian pig farms.
Cambodia consumes between 8,000 and 9,000 pigs every day, a task that may soon become impossible, but Pov called on his fellow pig farmers to continue their work and promote domestic farms.
“Don’t lose hope,” he said.
