Winnipeg - The Canadian Pork Council has asked the government to contribute to international food aid packages to crisis-hit Russia, partly in a move to boost depressed hog industry prices, the council said on Friday.
“The CPC continues to encourage Canada to join in with the United States and Europe in examining food aid relief packages for Russia,” the group, which represents hog producers, said in a statement.
“That will permit that country to deal with its expected food shortages while at the same time moving part of the pork that would be exported under more normal circumstances,” it said.
The U.S. has promised a $625 million food aid package to Russia, whose rouble collapsed in September in a financial crisis which has prompted fears of hunger during the approaching winter.
The EU has proposed to deliver in January a 400-million Ecu (US$472.2 million) aid package which would include one million tonnes of wheat, 500,000 tonnes of rye, 100,000 tonnes of pork, 150,000 tonnes of beef, 50,000 tonnes of rice and 50,000 tonnes of milk powder.
“The current price depression...is by far the worst ever experienced by virtually everyone who is involved in raising hogs today,” the CPC said.
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