Pig farmers in the Ashanti Region are raising the price of pork in response to steeply increasing production costs, which have forced several businesses in the sector to shut down.

At a press conference in Kumasi, farmers announced a new minimum price of GHS30 per kilo of live-weight pork, up from GHS26, effective immediately.

Daniel Yaw Saim, Regional Chairman of the Pig Farmers Association, highlighted the challenging conditions facing farmers, revealing that 18 pig farms have closed this year due to the rising costs of essential feed ingredients.

According to Mr. Saim, the price of a 50-kilogram bag of maize, a key feed component, has surged from GHS250 to GHS360, while the cost of rice has increased from GHS30 per bag to GHS110.

Soya bean prices have also spiked from GHS350 to GHS550 per bag.

Mr. Saim appealed to customers for understanding, emphasizing that the price adjustment is necessary to keep their businesses afloat in these difficult times.