Source:  Amber Gibson, MEATINGPLACE, 7/12/11

China’s Premier Wen Jiabao ordered local leaders to support pork production in an effort to contain consumer prices.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, fast-rising pork prices were key in pushing the consumer price index to a three-year high of 6.4 percent in June.

Pork prices jumped 11.4 percent in June, after a 2.6 percent increase in May, the NBS said.

In a statement from the Chinese Cabinet’s website, Wen said maintaining the stability of consumer prices is a top government priority.

“The government holds the unavoidable responsibility of stabilizing pork prices,” he said. However, he did not outline specifics on how this will be accomplished.

Farmers who met with Wen in Shaanxi province cited high costs for corn used as pig feed. One farmer, Li Nahou, was quoted as saying that pigs’ feed now costs more than what people eat.
 

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