PETALING JAYA: The prices of pork are tipped to increase to RM2,000 per 100kg, with farmers, middlemen and traders pointing fingers at each other without a solution.

Farmers claim that the increase in prices for animal feed, risk of pigs in the farm having to be culled due to African swine fever, and a drop in the number of pigs, have all led to middlemen asking for higher prices.

Middlemen and pork traders retaliated by saying the farmers increased the ex-farm prices of pork on the grounds of African swine fever resulting in them suffering drastic drop in business.

The Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia (FLFAM) president Tan Chee Hee said the sharp increase in pork prices is due to a drop in supply.

FLFAM can only help by increasing the supply but not intervention, said Tan.

“We suggest that the government increase the subsidy for culling pigs infected by the African swine fever.

“The government can also introduce vaccines to curb the African swine fever.

“By encouraging the farmers to rear more pigs, the supply will increase and the issue can be resolved,” he said.

Farmers cut production due to African swine fever but still have to pay for operating costs such as worker salaries, feed and others, he explained.

Farmers claim that they do not fix the prices of live pigs but the middlemen who hike the prices to secure the supply.

Farmers are facing higher operating costs having to screen the pigs once every week.

Middlemen claim that farmers cite African swine fever as the reason to raise the prices.

“They ask for RM1,710 per 100kg or they will not sell.

“We believe the price will continue to rise to RM2,000 per 100kg,” said a middleman.

As almost half of the pigs in Malaysia have been culled due to African swine fever, pork prices have spiked due the low supply.

“We face few hundred customers and business has dropped by 30% as many are afraid to buy because of the high prices,” he said.

A pork trader said the domestic trade and cost of living ministry should step in to check whether farmers and middlemen rake in exorbitant profits.

“If pork prices continue to soar, many traders may close shop as consumers can’t afford expensive pork,” he said.

The agriculture and food security ministry issued a statement on Tuesday saying African swine fever should not be the reason or excuse for local farmers and pork traders to increase their prices.

Deputy agriculture and food security minister Chan Foong Hin reminded the farmers and traders that if the prices of pork continue to increase and be revised every month, consumers will eventually opt for chicken instead.

The price of pig has increased from RM1,400 per 100 kg before Chinese New Year to RM1,710 per 100kg this month.