CHINA / National
Measures urged to boost pig farming
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-07-28 21:05
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.
A woman customer buys pork at a market in Yichang, central China's Hubei
Province in this June 5, 2007 photo. The consumer price index rose 3.4%
in May over the same period of last year, according to statistics
released on Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics. [newsphoto]
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.
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