Big operators squeeze out China's 'backyard' pig farms
China's small pig farmers are being pushed out by bigger operators. About 90% of China’s 40 million pig farmers raise fewer than 50 swine but account for one-third of supply. A lack of understanding of market cycles means many of these "backyard" farmers buy and sell pigs at the wrong time, triggering supply disruptions and price volatility. The government has therefore cut back subsidies for smaller farmers and brought in stricter regulations to try to stabilise the industry and force small farms to either expand or close. Recent scandals in the pork industry have included unethical practices such as selling meat from diseased swine, and have led to demand for more regulation.
The move towards industrial-scale pork production is part of a broader plan to develop more modern and efficient agriculture and improved food safety