The Provincial Executive Meeting held yesterday outlined 11 key requirements aimed at stabilizing pork prices, ensuring food safety, and enhancing support for farming assistance.
Since June last year, the pork acquisition price in our province has been on a steady rise. After May this year, the increase accelerated, with the pork acquisition price reaching 20 yuan per kilogram by the end of June, up over 100% year-on-year. The retail price of pork has also been rising accordingly, with the wholesale price of pork hitting 26.52 yuan per kilogram in June, up over 100% year-on-year and 42.96% higher than January this year.
Due to the continuous rise in meat prices recently, the market sales have decreased. As of July 1st, the transaction volume at the provincial wholesale markets dropped by 36.86% compared to the previous week (June 17th).
In response to the ongoing rise in meat prices, yesterday's meeting outlined 11 demands to stabilize pork prices. Zhao Zhengyong stated, "Pork farmers are also on edge due to the wide fluctuations in pork prices, and they too hope for market stability and do not wish to see prices swing wildly."
It is understood that in the latter half of 2007, the country introduced some supportive policies for pork production, with some of these policies not being implemented to this day. "We cannot forget the farmers when the situation is good," Zhao Zhengyong warns officials at all levels.
In this round of support, we will focus on increasing insurance, assisting with loans for businesses, and monitoring feed prices and quality. "Financial institutions should study loan support for pig farming," said Zhao Zhengyong, and he pledged to allocate a certain amount of funds for interest subsidies.
Due to the rise in feed prices, some farmers have commented that "what the pigs eat is more expensive than what humans eat." In response, Zhao Zhengyong has demanded strict monitoring of the prices and quality of feed.
Currently, logistics costs account for a significant portion of pork prices, thus "the expiring toll stations on highways must be abolished to reduce highway tolls." Zhao Zhengyong emphasizes that it is imperative to effectively lower circulation costs.
In response to recent food safety issues, Zhao Zhengyong has demanded strict enforcement of the law and vowed, "We cannot allow food safety issues to tarnish public trust."
