Thai pig farms face closure risk amid pork oversupply crisis
The Swine Raisers Association of Thailand (SRAT) expressed growing concern that small pig farms could face closure due to an increasing oversupply of pigs, as larger farms aggressively expand their production capabilities.
This oversupply issue arises from major pig farms in Thailand continuously boosting their production without aligning with the actual market demand for pork, according to SRAT President Sitthiphan Thankiatphinyo.
Sitthiphan emphasised the necessity of maintaining a balance between pork supply and demand to prevent extreme fluctuations in prices. He noted past incidents where disease outbreaks led to soaring pork prices, adversely affecting consumers.
Conversely, a situation with an influx of smuggled pork from abroad caused a sharp decline in prices, resulting in numerous farmers shutting their operations, said Sitthiphan.
“The production of pork, like that of any other product, needs a good balance between supply and demand.”
Sitthiphan further urged large pig farms to collaborate with smaller farms to promote sustainability rather than focusing solely on increasing their capacity.
Thailand currently rears approximately 20 million pigs annually, primarily at 10 major farms. These farms continue to increase their production rates even though the demand for pork remains stable.
Sitthiphan warned that if the current situation persists without efforts to restore the balance between supply and demand, the industry will suffer, particularly impacting small farms. Significant financial losses could potentially drive all small pig farms out of business.
In related developments, Suntharaphon Singriwong, President of the Northern Swine Raisers Association, commended the government’s initiative to curb the illegal use of substances like salbutamol, clenbuterol, and ractopamine in pig feed. These substances are often used to enhance protein production in pig muscles, but their use raises concerns about food safety.
Suntharaphon highlighted that the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) is spearheading efforts to improve food safety, encouraging consumers to purchase pork bearing the DLD OK logo to ensure it is safe for consumption.
This move by the government is seen as a positive step toward ensuring the safety and quality of pork available in the market, aligning with broader efforts to stabilise the industry, reported Bangkok Post.
