Lao pork imports get the chop

Lao pork imports get the chop

The Department of Livestock and Fisheries has banned the import of pork and piglets to protect domestic producers.

Importing piglets and pork from neighbouring countries, especially Thailand, in previous months has impacted numerous Lao pig bre eders according to the department.

To help Lao farmers and particularly Vientiane breeders sustain their businesses, the department has banned imports temporarily until farmers can sell their surplus piglets, the department Director General, Dr Bounkhouang Khambounheuang told Vientiane Times yesterday.

“Pig farms in Laos currently raise sufficient piglets to supply the Vientiane market with 600 head a day and have produced a surplus of 20,000 head,” he said.

“So, the country no longer needs to import pork and piglets at present,” Dr Bounkhouang commented.

The department has directed the livestock and fisheries sector at provincial and district level around the country as well as veterinarian authorities at each border checkpoint to take responsibility to prevent the imports.

This announcement still complies with the obligations Laos has as a member of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Bounkhouang said.

The cost of producing pork in the market remains high as breeders battle high overheads to raise their pigs, and they also have to repay high interest rate loans to the bank, he explained.

However, farmers should increase their capacity and improve their businesses ready for competition after Laos integrates with the Asean Economic Community next year.

The department ordered that if authorities find illegal pork imports it should be destroyed by burning with the violators reprimanded and fined in each case.

As lack of breeding experience, management skills and struggles with high interest rate loans means Lao farmers still face more challenges compared to foreign competitors.

Numerous pig farms have stopped operating after the pig price dropped, while the costs of breeding are still high, Vientiane Pig farms group Head, Mr Neuang Sombounkhan reported.

The group currently still has more than 50 remaining members and business conditions are constrained by the high cost of finance in the country.

Nevertheless, some Lao business operators have decided to borrow money from banks to invest in their businesses by utilising new technology.

Many pig breeders have developed their breeding operations from family farms and expanded them into larger businesses.

vientiane times