Lich said many pig farmers, especially in Southern provinces, quit the biz when feed prices shot up.

The current price of pig feed is VND8,500 per kilogram. To produce one kilogram of pork, 2.6 kilograms of feed are needed, costing VND22,100.

Meanwhile, a kilogram of live pig goes for VND32,000-34,000 in the south and VND28,000-30,000 in the north.

With capital used to buy breeding animals and animal feed coming from loans with 20 percent interest, breeders cannot afford to continue their line of work, Lich said.

In addition, blue ear disease and bird flu have also contributed to the current meat shortage.

Pork accounts for 80 percent of the country’s meat consumption, chicken 11-12 percent, and beef 3-4 percent.

Local meat consumption is especially high during the Christmas, New Year and Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays, according to Lich.

To avoid meat shortages and encourage pig farming, Lich said, the association plans to invest in production and imports of raw materials for animal feed production.

The association asked banks to decrease interest rates on loans, the Ministry of Finance to eliminate the value added tax (VAT) for raw produce, the Ministry of Industry and Trade to reorganize distribution systems.