The country’s meat imports fell 9.7 percent in the first 10 months of 2023 to 1.09 billion kilograms from 1.12 billion kg. in the same period in 2022 amid the government’s aggressive campaign against smuggling and its concerted efforts to increase livestock production.
Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that imports in October went down by 18.9 percent year-on-year to 95.979 million kg. from 80.72 million kg. in October 2022.
“Our mandate is to eliminate illegal meat importation, smuggling, hoarding, price manipulation and anything that distorts prices in the market. We will raise production by five times [in five years]. With enough volume we hope to make food affordable for Filipinos. We want producers, especially small- scale farmers, to make money,” said Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano.
He attributed the sustained downtrend in meat importation to the government’s thrust to raise local production and the marching order received by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel from the President to curve illegal trade of meat.
Data showed that beef imports dropped 22.1 percent to 13.963 million kg. in October, while buffalo meat shipments fell 42.5 percent from last year’s 4.67 million to 1.98 million kg.
Pork imports also decreased by 26.35 percent to 45.604 million from 61.927 million kg. in October 2022.
Chicken imports in October this year rose slightly by 1.28 percent to 34.25 million kg. from 33.81 million kg.
The government is pushing for the immediate vaccination of livestock and poultry animals to control the spread of African swine fever and avian influenza. Savellano noted, however, the problems in sourcing of vaccines for ASF and AI.
Meanwhile, the DA is raising its target on the use of artificial insemination to raise the genetic quality of animals.
“We are raising our target on the use of artificial insemination by 50 percent from the previous 30 percent. We are improving availability of high-quality semen to farmers under our breeding program in order to raise our animal and meat production,” he said.
The DA is also embarking on long-term programs to raise local animal and meat production through investments in infrastructure development including farm-to-market roads and transportation networks, cold storage facilities and meat processing plants that can help reduce post-harvest losses.
The DA will explore development of high-value meat products that have untapped markets and expand sources of meat importation.
It is now setting up a central information technology hub as part of a program to register all legitimate livestock farmers under a National Livestock Library. This will legitimatize contributors and beneficiaries of the government’s livestock program.