·Wen called for 6 measures to boost pig farming on Wednesday.
·The short supply of live pigs kept driving the pork price higher.
·Wen said all unreasonable restrictions on pig farming shall be abolished.

    BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for measures to boost pig farming as short supply has led to continued pork price hikes, causing concerns among consumers and the government over a possible spillover effect on inflation.

    Wen urged local governments to leave no stone unturned in enhancing the enthusiasm of pig breeders when addressing an executive conference of the State Council on Wednesday.

    The country's pig production fell dramatically in recent months on pig breeders' dampened enthusiasm due to rising feedstuff costs and low price in past few years, and also the massive pig culling after the outbreak of blue-ear disease in some regions.

    The short supply of live pigs kept driving the pork price higher. The wholesale price of pork in June represented a 74.6-percent surge from the same month last year.

    Wen said it's of great importance to increase pig production, which would help stabilize the pork price and satisfy the meat demand of the public.

    He called on local governments to deliver the subsidies for breeding female pigs to farmers arranged by the central budget "as soon as possible".

    In order to beef up disease control, Wen said immunization against major pig epidemics shall be provided to farmers free of charges, and that subsidies shall be offered to farmers if their pigs have to be slaughtered for disease control.

    The premier said local administrative chiefs shall be held responsible for pork supply in their areas, and that all unreasonable restrictions on pig farming shall be abolished.

    Local governments shall also increase or pay allowances for lower-income families and college students to ensure their living standards are not adversely affected by the higher pork prices, Wen said.

    China steps up measures to boost pig supply, control pork prices

    BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Agriculture dispatched another 20 inspection teams to the country's 60 pig production bases on Monday in a bid to curb the spreading of blue-ear disease and ensure the pig supply to stabilize the pork prices.

    Pork prices have continued to rise despite the government's efforts to encourage pig breeding with subsidies, after the pork supply was strained by the recent culling of pigs due to the outbreak of the disease.

    China's pork prices soar 74.6%

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The pork will continue to be expensive in the latter half of the year as supply shortfall can hardly be eased in a short period of time, a senior Chinese trade official said Saturday in an interview with Xinhua.

    "If disasters or epidemics occurred, there would be further price hikes in regions affected," said Huang Hai, Assistant Minister of Commerce.     

    Ministry: China's pork prices continue to rise

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The pork will continue to be expensive in the latter half of the year as supply shortfall can hardly be eased in a short period of time, a senior Chinese trade official said Saturday in an interview with Xinhua.

    "If disasters or epidemics occurred, there would be further price hikes in regions affected," said Huang Hai, Assistant Minister of Commerce.