According to the ministry, total meat production in the country increased 6.6 per cent in the first seven months to 2.87 million tons, but it was not enough to meet local demand, especially for pork.

As a result, the ministry, together with trade and finance ministry officials, has proposed the government takes measures to help meat producers, reports ThanhNien News.com, citing VnExpress. Agricultural officials said import taxes on corn and wheat used as animal feed should be cut to 3 and zero per cent respectively.

Viet Nam’s consumer price index jumped 23.02 per cent in August from a year ago. Food prices alone surged 27.87 per cent year-on-year.

Analysts have said food prices have been rising since early this year, but spiked in July on tight pork supplies. "In August, pork prices seem to have softened somewhat compared to July but remain high compared to a year ago," Viet Capital Securities said in a report last week.