Charoen Pokphand to build hog, feed production facilities for $1B

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the Philippine unit of Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) is planning to build agro-industrial complexes for $1 billion, geared towards restoring the hog industry to pre-African Swine Fever (ASF) levels by 2028.

In a statement, the DA said CPF is evaluating nine sites for agro-industrial complexes, each covering about 20 hectares. The planned complexes, which will feature feed production and hog processing facilities, are estimated to cost $125 million each to build.

The feed plants are expected to produce around 10,000 tons per month, which would require the output of about 5,000 hectares of corn.

CPF said it aims to raise its hog production capacity from 1.3 million to 7 million head by 2030. Over half of the production will be on Luzon (4.8 million head), with the rest in Mindanao (1.2 million) and Visayas (1 million).

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. urged CPF to consider situating some facilities near major tourist hubs to ease food costs.

“This CPF expansion aligns perfectly with President Marcos Jr.’s vision of a zero-kilometer food system — producing food where it’s needed — and advancing agricultural investment to create jobs and ensure food security,” Mr. Laurel was quoted as saying in a statement.

Since the first ASF outbreak in 2019, the swine herd has fallen from 13 million to around 8 million head.

Mr. Marcos recently signed the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, which allocates roughly P20 billion annually over the next decade to develop the livestock, poultry, and dairy sectors, with nearly one-fifth of the funding allocated to hog repopulation. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel