THE memorandum of understanding (MOU) inked by the Provincial Government with hog raisers associations and buyers for Negros Occidental to supply pigs to Luzon market is seen to further boost local swine raisers.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, along with Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, signed the MOU with the Alliance of Hog Raisers Association of Negros Occidental (Ahrano), Negros Occidental Hog Raisers Association (Nohra) and a buyer at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on October 14.
Considered as producers, Ahrano and Nohra were represented by their respective presidents, Pastor Ric Lauron and Rosendo Dela Rama Jr., respectively.
The raisers associations plan to establish a workable and lasting collaboration with each other in tapping the hog market in Luzon.
For the buyer, on the other hand, it was signed by Albert Lim, a private business entrepreneur engaged in the trading of live hogs.
Under the MOU, the producers will supply and sell their fattened hogs on a regular and scheduled basis to the buyer with consideration to the weight and quality specified by the latter.
The buyer, meanwhile, shall buy their hogs at prices advantageous to both parties and shall observe the proper transport quarantine protocols with government regulatory agencies to maintain the African Swine Fever (ASF)-free status of Negros Occidental.
The PVO, as facilitator, will coordinate with the producers and buyer as to the availability of market hogs, schedules of deliveries and shipment, and other related activities.
Negros Occidental swine raisers have been producing fattened or market hogs in excess of the local demand resulting to oversupply that pulled down the farmgate price of hogs.
Also, the surplus had pushed local raisers to market their produce outside the province.
There is currently an attractive market of hogs and pork in Luzon mainly due to the ASF outbreak there.
The low production in Luzon has caused the demand of swine from other provinces including Negros Occidental to increase.
In terms of price, the outbreak also resulted to higher liveweight price of hogs per kilogram, at P185, particularly in Batangas and Bulacan.
This is higher than the liveweight price of P100 to P105 pesos per kilo in Negros Occidental especially in Fifth and Sixth Districts.
Earlier this week, the province's swine was able to penetrate the market in Luzon following the shipment of 1,430 market hogs to Tarlac, Bulacan and Manila via MT Oceanic vessel.
Of the number, 942 are backyard swine while the remaining 488 heads are from commercial farms totaling to about P14.3 million.
Prior to the ASF outbreak in Luzon, Negros Occidental only supplied swine to the Visayas market.
Decena said there is currently a bright future for pig raising in the province, adding that it will now be a regular shipment of pigs from Negros Occidental to Luzon.
"This is one of the gains from being an ASF-free province. Undoubtedly, it has brought economic benefits to our backyard and commercial raisers," he said.
For his part, Lacson expressed hopes that the steady supply of hogs will bring about economic benefits to Negrense hog raisers.
The governor is also upbeat that it will positively impact the community amid the global pandemic.
"The opportunities to produce and raise quality meat of pigs are already within reach to be sustained by the loca raisers and producers," Lacson said, reminding raisers of their commitment to sustain an ASF-free province.