Butchers face pork shortage as breeders halt slaughter

The government yesterday denied it was paying 3c less per kilo for pork as the Pig Breeders Cooperative kept up its protest by refraining from slaughtering pigs.

A Rural Affairs Ministry spokesman said the issue arose because breeders were requesting additional aid besides what was available under the Special Market Policy Programme for Maltese Agriculture, or an increase in the price of pork from that agreed in the Levy Dismantling Programme to cover the breeders' uncompetitive situation.

The government, the spokesman said, had asked the cooperative to draft a comprehensive programme on the changes needed in the industry including a genetic breeding programme.

The government currently pays producers 14c4 per kilo for slaughtered pigs.

Pig Breeders' Cooperative secretary Philip Buhagiar insisted, however, that no pigs were slaughtered these last two weeks because the government planned to reduce the payment to breeders.

Slaughtering normally takes place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, according to demand.

Production sometimes reached 2,400 pigs a week but could dip to 1,600 because of the importation of inferior quality water-injected meat, he claimed.

Mr Buhagiar said the minister had verbally presented the cooperative with an unacceptable plan during a meeting on December 7. The cooperative now wanted that plan in writing.

No further meetings have been held since although a meeting is planned for Tuesday.

Carmelo Dalli, Meatsellers' Association secretary, said meat sellers were badly affected by the cooperative's action because local pork was one of the main products sold by butchers. On the other hand, consumers were facing a lack of choice.

The product could be improved especially in the rearing and breeding stages.

However, it was still among the very best in Europe, he noted. Butchers somehow managed to make do this week but next week would be problematic if no pigs were slaughtered, Mr Dalli said.

Opposition's spokesman for agriculture Noel Farrugia blamed the situation on Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino whose "capricious behaviour led to a halt to the necessary investment in pig farming".