The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was visiting a pig farm in Phu Ho Commune, Phu Tho Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kien

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that the ministry would ask 17 big animal husbandry companies to reduce pork prices to reasonable levels.

Cuong stressed this during a trip to check pig reproduction in the northern province of Phu Tho on Tuesday.

He pointed out that some big companies were selling live hog at VND75,000 (US$3.2) per kilo, at which level they already were making large profits. In some retail spots, live hog prices were even higher.

According to Nguyen Xuan Loc, head of the management board of Ha Nam cattle and poultry wholesale market, said that live hog prices were on a downward trend in recent days after hitting a record of VND90,000 per kilo in early March in the northern region. In the market, hog prices were currently at around VND79-84,000 per kilogramme.

Pork prices were pushed up mainly due to scarcity caused by African swine fever in 2019. Recently, the novel coronavirus outbreak also affected pork prices as consumers raced to store food over fears of the epidemic.

“There is room to further lower pork prices,” Cuong said, stressing that it was a must to bring pork prices to reasonable levels so as to promote the sustainable development of the husbandry industry.

Cuong said that the ministry would ask big husbandry companies which played significant roles in the market to lower pork prices.

He also said that the African swine fever was already wiped out in 98 per cent of communes nationwide and now the focus should be placed on pig reproduction.

Cuong also urged farmers and husbandry companies to comply with bio-safety standards in pig raising to prevent the diseases and ensure product quality.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday issued Directive No 12/CT-TTg to hasten measures to prevent and fight against diseases affecting livestock and poultry. — VNS