The recent spate of positive cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) has again shaken the small and backyard piggery owners, who mostly depend on their swine to fend backhome economy and even send their children to school.
The inability of the small time hog raisers to install biosecurity and other facilities to secure their pens against airborne virus has been capitalized to weaponize and fatten commercial piggery owners who now enjoys thick orders of live swine and its bi-products.
Let’s not forget the times and let’s look back on photos of our government officials who ate the meaty lechons from the well kept commercial farms, while the small farmers of Luzon were crying over the loss of income when the first case of ASF was reported.
It is always easy to say that it is safe to eat pork especially if it is offered by commercial piggeries, and promote the same over safe products. It remains a fact that small farmers pay the price.
Let us bear in mind that the farmers pay their taxes honestly. It is a fact and is reflected in various government records and even research institutions that government collects higher taxes from small people who does not have accountants to prepare figures for them.
Now that the small industry players are facing challenge, it is but proper to provide them the equal treatment which government officials offer to the so-called commercial owners.
It is also good to see government officials in the agriculture industry eating the meaty lechon and photos should be captioned- it is safe to eat backyard pork, because they always say human are safe to eat pork given the ASF virus.
Politics in the midst of ASF should end. Government should put its heart to the small piggery owners, after all, government is meant to serve the people regardless of their creed, color and economic status.
