FUTURENEWS WHAT IMPACT HAS COVID-19 HAD ON THE PORK SECTOR ? Professionals in the sector acted decisively and, adapting to an unusual situation, have worked to maintain their activity. Weaning pen. Photo: Rotecna.
The global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has put many sectors of our economy against the ropes, fighting day by day to continue their activity over the last few months. In this period, professionals in the pig sector (farmers, meat industry, transport, distribution, etc.) have done a great job. It has been possible to supply pork to the population. How has the sector managed to adapt to this challenging situation? What impact has the pandemic had on them? To know the answer to these questions, we spoke with Jaime Chico and Miguel Ángel Higuera, who offer us their take on these questions.
Adapting to a new reality The arrival of the first coronavirus cases at our 14
borders alarmed society, which with fear, uncertainty and ignorance, was forced to face a pandemic. These feelings also reached farms, where the priority was to maintain activity and produce with new protection systems. To cope with this unique situation, a protection guide against coronavirus was launched from the National Association of Pig Earners Producers (ANPROGAPOR) at the farm level to minimize contact between employees. “Farmworkers are aware of how work needs to be done to prevent animal infections, and what was done was to reinforce what was already done, that is to say, work to adapt these procedures to human protection, implementing
measures such as maintaining the separation between people, minimize the number of people in common areas or avoid sharing vehicles.”, Miguel Ángel Higuera exposes, director of ANPROGAPOR, who considers that the result of the measures developed was successful and that the cases of contagion between employees were minimal: “We can say that pork sector workers’ preparedness for bioprotection and safety has been exemplary”. In the meat industries and feed factories, the situation was not significantly different. To continue supplying society with pork, it was necessary to continue producing and maximize safety. As Jaime Chico, CEO of Agri-food Chico,
