Pig farmers raise a stink outside Government House, demanding to ham-mer out solutions against pork smuggling

An estimated 1,000 pig farmers gathered outside Government House yesterday, demanding action against the smuggling of foreign pork and the high cost of feed. They claim both issues are driving up pork prices and threatening the livelihood of local farmers.

The group’s representatives submitted their complaint to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, stating that both problems are causing serious harm to the country’s pork industry, valued at over 100 billion baht.

Surachai Sutthitham, president of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, said that their complaints about smuggled pork have been ignored for roughly a year now. The lingering issue prompted the association to petition the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) several times last year to take swift action in cracking down on illegal pork imports.

Sutthitham explained that pork smuggling is a complex problem and it’s highly probable that some state officials are involved. Certain regulations outlining import practices, criteria, and legal conditions may have been manipulated to facilitate smuggling via “nothing-to-declare” channels at the border.

In addition to the smuggling issue, the excessive cost of pig feed has only worsened the situation. Authorities have dismissed the price increase as an “old issue,” but the association argues that it should have been addressed earlier.

The Swine Raisers Association has made efforts to collaborate with the Department of Internal Trade and wholesale businesses in maintaining retail pork prices within their stores. Unfortunately, these attempts have been unsuccessful in offsetting the farmers’ losses.

Sutthitham stated that the association is urging Thai law enforcement authorities to hold pork smugglers accountable and requesting the DLD to limit imports of pork entrails, some of which are suspected to have entered the country illegally. The resolution of these issues is vital for the stability of the local pork industry and the livelihood of countless pig farmers affected by these challenges.