The problem was discussed at a meeting between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on May 30.

Statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade show that African swine fever has been detected in 43 cities and provinces.

As of May 24, over 1.7 million pigs were destroyed, accounting for 5% of the country's total pigs.

Currently, pork is being sold at low prices due to lower demand.

Pork prices dropped to VND28,000 (USD1.2) to 32,000 per kilo in the north and VND32,000 to VND38,000 per kilo in the south since April.

Do Thang Hai, deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, worried that Vietnam would face a shortage of pork in the future.

Deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said the most suitable solution was to buy healthy pigs and then stockpile frozen pork.

This solution will help prevent losses for farmers and state budget spending as well as protect the environment.

However, it is not easy to store such a huge amount of pork because of limited capacity and equipment at local firms.

Vietnam has 387 major slaughterhouses and 27,000 small facilities, mostly in the Red River Delta.

Le Van Loc, deputy director of Dong Nai Province Department of Industry and Trade said they didn't have a frozen warehouse that can meet the required standards.

Other attendees suggested developing a plan to help farmers raise pigs again in the future.

In order to carry out the plan, the Ministry of Industry and Trade would propose to the government to support local firms in transportation and pork freezing processes.

Commercial banks were asked to provide loan packages with preferential interest rates.

Nguoi Lao Dong/Dtinews

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