19/08/2026
Unsold Pigs and Difficulties Faced by Pig Farmers in Bhutan*
*Focus Areas: all Dzongkhags and Samtse ,Tsirang Dzongkhags, Dagana ,Chukha , Gelephu.
*1. Executive Summary*
Pig farmers in southern Bhutan, especially in *Tsirang, Samtse, Dagana, Sarpang, and Chhukha*, are facing a financial crisis due to large volumes of unsold pork. Key drivers: weak market demand, high feed costs, illegal meat imports, disease outbreaks like African Swine Fever (ASF), and poor market linkages. The government has responded with a Price Guarantee Scheme, but farmers say deeper structural issues remain.
*2. Scale of the Problem*
- *Unsold Stock*: In Semjong gewog, Tsirang alone, 192 metric tonnes of pork is still left unsold.
- *Number of Farmers Affected*: ∼4,376 pig farmers in major pig-producing dzongkhags are impacted. In Samtse, there are 1,697 households with 12,643 people engaged in pig farming.
- *Farmers Forced to Hold Pigs*: Many are keeping "market-ready pigs for longer periods" due to low prices, which increases feed expenses and losses.
*3. Key Challenges*
*A. Market & Pricing*
1. *Low Demand + Illegal Imports*: Farmers say declining consumer demand and "continued inflow of illegal meat" through border areas undermine prices. Illegal products bypass BFDA inspection and sell cheaper.
2. *Middlemen Price Cuts*: While production cost is ~Nu 336/kg, some farmers were offered as little as Nu 180 to 200/kg by middlemen.
*B. High Cost of Production*
1. *Feed Costs*: Feed is the biggest expense. One farmer in Semjong had Nu 8.2 million in feed credit and 500 pigs, but couldn't repay. Farmers report feed price hikes make it "difficult to feed pigs".
2. *Transport*: Poor roads and distance to market increase costs. Tsirang has specific issues with poor road conditions.
*4. Government Interventions*
1. *Price Guarantee Scheme (PGS)*: Fixed farm gate price of *Nu 390/kg* to help farmers recover costs.
2. *Market Measures*: Phased harvesting, coordinated marketing, formalizing livestock aggregators in Dagana and Tsirang, and dedicated shop stalls at Kaja throm.
3. *Cold Storage*: Plans to improve use of cold storage for staggered distribution.
4. *Insurance*: National Crop and Livestock Insurance Scheme covers disease deaths.
5. *Biosecurity*: Awareness on boiling swill for 30 minutes, restricting visitors.
Farmers argue pricing alone is "limited relief when fewer people are buying domestic pork".
*5. Impact on Villages in Samtse & Tsirang*
- *Debt Cycle*: Loans for feed + unsold pigs = inability to repay. Risk of losing collateral like land/TV.
- *Reduced Production*: Some Tsirang farms have decreased pig numbers because "rise in feed prices and low pork prices have discouraged" farmers.
- *Food Security Concerns*: Local meat shops in Damphu, Tsirang report shortages despite high district production.
*6. Recommendations from Stakeholders*
Based on ministry and farmer feedback:
1. *Local Feed Production* or cooperative purchasing to cut feed costs.
2. *Stronger enforcement* against illegal meat imports.
3. *Better market linkages* and farmer cooperatives instead of individual selling.
*7. Conclusion*
The "unsold pig" problem in villages is not just a market issue. It’s a chain problem: high input cost + weak demand + illegal competition. Without fixing market access and feed costs together, price guarantees alone won’t prevent farmers in from falling deeper into debt.
Tshering Tobgay
