The Philippine unit of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) is planning to build a $1 billion agro-industrial complexes set to restore the hog industry to pre-African swine fever (ASF) levels by 2028, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
In a statement, the DA said the CPF is evaluating nine sites for agro-industrial complexes, each covering about 20 hectares. The planned complexes, which will include feed production and hog processing facilities, are estimated to cost $125 million to build each.
The feed plants are expected to produce about 10,000 tonnes per month, which will require the production of about 5,000 hectares of corn.
CPF said it aims to increase its hog production capacity from 1.3 million heads to 7 million heads by 2030. More than half of the production will be on Luzon (4.8 million head), with the rest in Mindanao (1.2 million) and Visayas (1 million).
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. urged the CPF to consider setting up some facilities near major tourist centers to reduce food costs.
“This CPF extension aligns perfectly with President Marcos Jr.’s vision of a zero-kilometer food system – producing food where it is needed and driving agricultural investment to create jobs and ensure food security,” Mr Laurel was quoted as saying in a statement.
Since the first ASF outbreak in 2019, the pig herd has fallen from 13 million to about 8 million.
Mr. Marcos recently signed the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, which allocates about P20 billion annually over the next decade to develop the livestock, poultry and dairy sectors, with about a fifth of the funds allocated for hog reintroduction. , Von Andrei E. Villamiel
