THE hog production in Davao Region declined by 12 percent in the third quarter of 2021 due to the effects of the African Swine Fever (ASF), which struck the population of pigs.
Based on the latest report of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)-Davao, hog production suffered a loss of 13,315 metric tons (MT) or a 12 percent decline during the third quarter of 2021.
The total production during this time was 97,740 MT -- a significant drop compared to the 111,055 MT produced in the third quarter of 2020.
During a virtual presser on February 7, Neda-Davao Director Ma. Lourdes Lim reported that hog farmers are still recovering and repopulating after having been hit by ASF.
Lim said the Bantay ASF sa Barangay or BABay ASF initiative of the Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with local government units, continues to address the ASF problem.
"The government continues to sustain and enhance the management to prevent and control the spread of ASF," said Lim.
The program aims to repopulate hog production, as well as to tighten the border control and quarantine stations throughout the Davao region and the respective local government units (LGUs).
Meanwhile, other types of livestock and poultry production declined as well, except for goat production which has increased.
In the third quarter of 2021, 7,768 MT of cattle was produced, which is a 5.54 percent decline from the 8,223 MT produced during the same period in 2020.
Production of chicken and chicken eggs decreased by 7.07 percent and 2.44 percent, respectively. Chicken production was down by 3,873 MT, while chicken eggs were down by 560 MT.
On the upside, goat production improved by 26.05 percent to 4,850 MT in the third quarter of 2021 from 3,848 MT in the same period in 2020.
"This underperformance may be attributed to the disruption of supply and value chain, as a result of the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that affected agri-related activities as well as the decline of institutional buyers," said Lim, referring to the factors blamed for the decline in livestock production.
Unfavorable climatic conditions also played a part in the decline.
According to a report from DA on August 2021, the outbreak of swine fever started in mid-2019 and has affected hog farms in 2,981 barangays in Luzon.
Last year, a total of 10,078 farmers in 209 barangays spread out in 40 local government units in Davao Region were affected.