Some traders reduced production of eggs, meat due to ECQ, imports

Some traders are making up for their losses due to the return of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and the impact of alleged excessive imports of agricultural products.

Poultry breeders who lay eggs reduced 20 percent of the poultry due to low demand caused by the return-lockdown of Metro Manila and other areas.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Kahit meron ka nang poultry na may cage, aalisan mo ng laman sapagkat tuloy-tuloy kaming nalulugi,” said Nicanor Briones, president of Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines.

According to the Agricultural Industry Association, many giant hog producers have switched to importing as an easier way to earn a living.

The small hog raisers, on the other hand, did not increase production.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Siyempre nabawasan dahil lockdown, pati mga pupuntang palengke. ‘Yung may trabaho huminto so ‘yung purchase powers babagsak. Dahil flooded, di nila mabenta, nakita nila ang daming importation lalo ngayong ECQ hindi makabenta kaya hindi magre-repopulate, ang tingin namin mga 30 percent,” said SINAG Chairman Rosendo So.

Among those affected was consumer Nora Figuracion, who first chose not to buy too many vegetables with the price increase.

Some traders reduced production of eggs, meat due to ECQ, imports

The Department of Agriculture said vegetable crops had not fully recovered from the ravages of typhoon Fabian and habagat last week.

ADVERTISEMENT

The agency has no help for those who went bankrupt in this pandemic, but loan programs are still open for them.

However, it has an interest.

“Kabilang po sila doon sa bibigyan ng ayuda ng DSWD. Kami po walang particular sa ECQ na binibigay na ayuda pero nagbibigay ng regular na ayuda ang department sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo,” said DA Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes.

He said rice farmers could count on help from the over-collected rice tariff.

The groups called for an end to excessive imports and raised tariffs on pork and rice from non-ASEAN countries and focused on local production.

The  rate at the national level decelerated further to 4.0 percent in July 2021, from 4.1 percent in June 2021. This brings the country’s year-to-date inflation from January to July 2021 at 4.4 percent. Inflation in July 2020 was posted at 2.7 percent.

Visit our Facebook page for more  updates.