CAPTION: Free-range pigs at a German hog farm. Pig farmers urge politicians to present a concept for restructuring animal husbandry. (picture alliance/dpa)
Pig farmers in Germany have appealed to Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir to present a concept for the restructuring of animal husbandry as soon as possible. Torsten Staack, managing director of the industry group ISN told German newspapers: "It is crucial that pig farmers finally get planning security and perspectives quickly. The longer this takes, the more farms will quit." The wave of closures is already dramatically high.
According to an ISN survey from this summer, the lack of political perspective is the main reason for many farmers to give up their farms or at least pig farming in the foreseeable future. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, almost 40 percent of farms have left pig farming in the past ten years. The number of pigs kept fell by 3.8 million animals in the same period. Pig farmers complain about the drop in prices; in addition, international sales markets have collapsed.
Agriculture Minister Özdemir is faced with the task of combining different interests into a viable concept, Staack told the newspaper. "He also has to bring together the different interests of the federal ministries - especially for agriculture, environment and construction - in order to make the demanded restructuring in pig farms possible at all."
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