DALIAN, China -- The Chinese government is stepping up its support for hog farmers hit by an outbreak of fatal swine fever, as it races to address plummeting pork production and calm consumer frustration over surging prices of a staple in the local diet.
China will provide up to 5 million yuan ($700,000) in subsidies for modern facilities installed in newly built hog farms and offer assistance for expanding operations under a six-point road map for increasing pork production unveiled last month. The plan also calls for higher subsidies for farms that have culled pigs because of the African swine fever epidemic, a highly contagious and often deadly viral disease.
