HCMC – Pig farmers in Dong Nai Province are scaling back on herd restocking, raising concerns about a potential pork shortage during the Tet holiday (Tet) that will start in late January 2025.
Dong Nai, a key pork supplier for HCMC, usually sees a rise in pig numbers starting in September to meet year-end demand. However, many farmers are hesitant this year, citing disease risks and high costs.
Nguyen Trung Tri, a farmer in Xuan Loc District, has restocked only 500 pigs this year, down from 2,000 last year, largely due to the rapid spread of African swine fever (ASF). “Despite slightly better prices, ASF spreads too fast, so I’m keeping my stock minimal,” Tri told The Saigon Times.
High piglet prices have also discouraged farmers from expanding their herds. Pham Viet Phuong, a pig farmer in HCMC with over 1,000 pigs, noted that prices are now between VND2 million and VND2.5 million for a 5-7 kg piglet, almost double last year’s price. Phuong plans to release his final batch of pigs for 2024 in November and will limit his herd until after Tet holiday.
Nguyen Kim Doan, vice chairman of Dong Nai’s Livestock Association, said that about half of local farmers have restocked. “That could lead to a pork shortage for Tet, driving prices higher,” he warned.
Doan added that Dong Nai’s daily supply to HCMC has already dropped by 20% to under 4,000 pigs due to reduced farming. Farmers are also fretting about volatile live pig prices, which recently fell from around VND67,000 per kg in September to VND60,000.
“Prices over VND60,000 per kg bring some profit, but ASF remains a significant risk, making many farmers reluctant to restock,” Doan noted.
