The teams, along with 10 previous teams, will survey pig production and disease control in villages and towns in the 20 provinces. They will talk with local breeders and visit pigpens, said the ministry.

Pork prices in most areas of China have been increasing in recent months due to an insufficient supply, said Xinhua news agency reports. The average pork price last month jumped almost 60 percent compared with the previous June, the state-level statistics bureau reported.

Pork wholesale prices polled by the Ministry of Commerce in 36 large- and medium-sized cities averaged 18.57 yuan (US$2.44) per kilogram on July 11, up nearly 30 percent from the 14.25 yuan on May 11. The average retail price for lean pork has exceeded 22 yuan per kilogram.

The elimination of pig diseases, especially blue-ear disease, has become a top priority for the departments as it can dispel the fears of breeders and spur them to raise more pigs. Nearly 40,000 pigs, or 27.5 percent with blue-ear disease, had died in 586 epidemic areas as of July 10.

Sun Zhengcai, Minister of Agriculture, said today in Beijing that the country will go all out to ensure a stable and balanced supply of pigs.


Source: Shanghai Daily.com