[PHNOM PENH POST]
Thailand's reported move to ban exports of live pigs highlights the need
to develop a larger Cambodian pig industry, insiders say.
The
Bangkok Post reported yesterday that Thailand’s Acting Commerce Minister
Porntiva Nakasai had banned the exports in order to bring down its own
prices, but experts say Cambodia is dependant on Thai pig imports to
meet domestic demand.
Cambodia Pig Farmers Association Chairman
Srun Pov said that Cambodia now imports more than 1,000 pigs per day
from Thailand, though added he was unaware of the ban.
“If
Thailand bans exporting pigs, we will face a supply shortage, pushing
prices up,” he said. “This will be a good sign for local producers, who
will increase production.”
Cambodia was at least two years away
from producing enough pigs to meet the country’s requirements. Local
producers currently produce about 2,000 pigs a day, though actual demand
is closer to 4,000 animals, said Srun Pov.
Banteay Meancheay
province Camcontrol Director Uth Sophea said he has seen a steady
decrease in pig imports from Thailand in recent weeks, pushing up pork
prices.
“Thailand has continuously reduced their [pig] exports,”
he said. “They are currently exporting about 200 to 300 pigs per day
[through the province], were it is usually 600.”
Thailand faces a
domestic shortage of pork, said Cambodian businessman Mong Reththy.
“The current political issues in Thailand also cause barriers for
Thailand’s pig investors. They afraid to spend more money to increase
production – they don’t want it to get lost,” he said.
Mong
Reththy currently operates a pig farm that can produce 3,000 to 4,000
pigs per months, which largely supplies Preah Sihanouk province.
“Ï think we are 60 percent relying on imports to supply Cambodia. And we mainly import from Thailand.”
However,
he downplayed concerns that Cambodia could face a shortage, saying
people could turn to substitutes such as fish if prices rise. “It is a
good time to prove that people can raise pigs themselves, and that we
don’t have to rely on imports,” he said.
Ministry of Commerce
Deputy Cabinet Chief Kong Putheara said the ministry has not received an
official letter from Thailand on the ban, though the notification would
be required under World Trade
Organisation guidelines. “If they
want to ban or suspend exports to member states, they have to confirm
the details,” he said. “If they proceed without notification, it could
cause a large impact on prices.”
Thai trade officials in Phnom Penh could not confirm the ban yesterday.
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