Strengthening the local poultry industry

EYES WIDE OPEN

- IRIS GONZALES

Just when we thought inflation had become less of a headache after hitting a six-month low of 0.9 percent in July, it's once again a thorn in our side after it quickened to 1.5 percent in August. This was driven by increases in the costs of housing, utilities, food and other essentials.

One way to help mitigate the problem is to strengthen the local food and agriculture industry, which in turn will improve the economy.

Flooding the local market with cheap imports will only kill our local producers.

The poultry industry is one area the government can focus on to manage food inflation.

Authorities can heed the call of the non-government peasants' advocacy group Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), which is pushing for a strategic policy shift focused on strengthening the local poultry industry.

Specifically, the group urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to manage poultry importation in a manner that is grounded in data and sensitive to local market realities.

PRRM said in a recent position paper: "The industry is currently positioned to gradually increase local production, with expectations of an ample domestic supply for 2026 and the years ahead.

However, this positive trajectory is at risk if there is unrestrained importation of finished poultry products. Such a scenario would force local producers-particularly small and medium-sized farms-to cull their flocks to avoid unsustainable losses brought about by depressed farmgate prices.

The inevitable result would be a contraction of the industry, leading to a severe under-supply in 2027 and beyond, as rebuilding production capacity requires significant time and investment."