News Corona crisis
Pig farmer is entitled to support, just like bar owner
Pig farmers suffer a lot from the corona crisis and the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). In Germany, the estimated damage is even as high as €1,5 billion. The German interest group ISN advocates emergency aid to pig farmers, equal to emergency aid for the catering industry in the country.
Pig prices have been hit by the wind from several sides in recent months. For example, there was the corona-related lockdown, the closure of slaughterhouses and the outbreak of African swine fever. This means that the supply has increased considerably and it is difficult to find sales. It is reported that there are currently almost 600.000 pigs ready for slaughter above the German market.
Pig farmers in Germany have suffered major financial damage as a result of the corona pandemic due to a lack of slaughter capacity and collapsed prices. The prices of finishers have fallen from over €2 per kilo to €1,19 per kilo. Piglet prices have also fallen sharply, from €80 to €22. Based on the 30 million pigs that have been put on the market since March, the total damage amounts to approximately €1,3 billion. The adverse effects of AVP even let the damage amount to €1,5 billion, ISN estimates.
Private storage not enough
The interest group is critical of the discussed subsidies for private storage of pork. According to them, this is insufficiently effective, because the subsidies do not directly reach the pig farmers and it is known that the German cold stores are already quite full.
ISN emphasizes that it is especially essential and necessary to increase the slaughter capacity. "If politicians do not intervene now, many pig farmers will be forced to stop. This would not only have far-reaching consequences for regions, it also endangers the self-sufficiency level of pork", emphasizes ISN.
Chanti Oussoren
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