DA discouraging chicken imports to support local poultry industry

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said there is “no reason to import” chicken now that the avian influenza outbreak has been contained and prices are beginning to recover ahead of the holiday season.

“There’s no reason for us to import,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol told reporters at the agency’s headquarters in Quezon City, noting that prices of poultry, which have improved since the outbreak in August, are still low.

He said he met recently with chicken importers who sought to verify the department’s policy on agricultural imports.

Mr. Piñol has been seeking to convince food processors and manufacturers to buy local and wants legislation to provide incentives for using domestic product.

“I cannot stop you but I am discouraging you,” Mr. Piñol told the importers.

“I told them to consider Filipino poultry raisers. They are only beginning to recover now. Prices have been down for three months,” he added.

Lawyer Elias Jose M. Inciong, president of the United Broiler Raisers Association confirmed that the liveweight price of poultry at farmgate started to rise in Central Luzon in late September.

Avian influenza or bird flu has the potential to kill up to 100% of domestic or wild birds affected.

The DA has said that the outbreak is a “hiccup” in agricultural output growth in the third quarter and that the period will still see year- on-year gains. —