MEASURES TO STABILISE PRICES OF PIGS AND POULTRY

Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for Law and National Development what measures are being taken by the Primary Production Department to stabilise the prices of pigs and poultry.

Mr Barker: Whilst the prices of pigs and pork in the market have increased somewhat, the prices of poultry have not and are, in fact, slightly lower than normal. The increase of pork price is due to a temporary shortage of the supply of pigs from the farms consequent on the outbreak of swine fever in the latter part of last year. However, this shortage is only temporary and I expect the situation should improve when the young pigs at present in the farms have grown to marketable weight.