Abattoir pork price gets the chop
Abattoir pork price gets the chop
The Vientiane Foodstuff State Enterprise in cooperation with CP Lao Co., Ltd. has adjusted the price of pork downwards at its own slaughterhouse in the hope of cutting the cost of pork in markets.
The price of mixed pork at the Donedou slaughterhouse in Hadxaifong district, Vientiane, has been reduced from 21,000 kip to 18,500 kip a kg, Vientiane Foodstuff State Enterprise Director, Mr Khamla Saengdara, told Vientiane Times last week.
“The adjustment began a month ago with the aim of helping to lower the price by consumers,” he said.
However, vendors in Vientiane markets are still selling pork for 33,000-35,000 kip a kg.
With increasing foreign investment in recent years, the domestic market, especially in Vientiane has experienced good supplies of pigs and pork.
As the cos t of beef is high, pork is still popular with strong high demand from consumers.
Mr Khamla advised that if people needed to buy cheaper pork, they could do so from the Donedou slaughterhouse and there was sufficient pork for retail buyers.
Pork prices usually rise during Lao New Year with some people claiming that meat vendors made large profits while Vientiane pig breeders' profits were small in comparison and the hardest hit were low-inco me families who cannot afford meat anymore.
The government has attempted to enforce fixed pork prices in the past but traders often still take the opportunity to lower or raise their prices as they see fit, making price controls irrelevant.
Farm gate pig prices have also decreased recently with market oversupply causing the government to ban the import of pork and piglets in a move to protect and promote domestic production.
Breeders called on the government to increase its efforts to control pork prices and prevent illegal imports and impose strict penalties on violators.
After Laos integrates with the Asean Economic Community, the government should decide which sectors shall be approved for foreign investment and which sectors shall be protected for Lao entrepreneurs.
Lao pig breeders have been struggling against foreign competition with a lack of capital and technical assistance.
