MANILA, Philippines – Backyard poultry growers are holding back on expansion plans, while big corporate growers such as San Miguel Corp. (SMC) are expanding in the face of the forthcoming implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA).
This was revealed to The STAR by Gregorio San Diego, president of the United Broilers and Raisers Association (UBRA), the country’s major grouping of poultry growers.
According to San Diego, small backyard growers are holding back on expansion plans on fears that the forthcoming implementation of AFTA next year would flood the market with imported chicken.
Full implementation of AFTA next year mandates the ASEAN member countries to bring down to between zero and five percent their tariff rates on a whole range of agreed products.
But while small backyard growers are fearful of AFTA, big corporate farmers such as SMC are apparently seeing an opportunity to possibly increase their export of Avian Influenza-free poultry products.
Because small backyard farmers are holding off on expansion plans, San Diego said, local chicken prices have remained high due to the limited backyard production.
He said the farmgate price for chicken is currently at P88 per kilo which translates to a retail price of P130 per kilo.
Small poultry growers are urging the Department of Agriculture to help the industry become more competitive by helping reduce the production cost which includes electricity cost.
San Diego said the poultry and egg sector is asking President Arroyo to declare a “moratorium” on the implementation of the AFTA agreement.
According to San Diego, the Philippine poultry and egg sector cannot effectively compete against Thailand and Malaysia which are major exporters of poultry.
San Diego argued that while Malaysia and Thailand may still be affected by the Asian Avian flu virus, they would eventually recover and the Philippines would be swamped with Thai and Malaysian poultry and egg exports. –Marianne V. Go, Philippine Star
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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