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

At a press conference in Kumasi, farmers announced a new minimum price of GH¢30 per kilo of live-weight pork, up from GH¢26, effective immediately.

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

According to Saim, the price of a 50-kilogram bag of maize, a key feed component, has surged from GH¢250 to GH¢360, while the cost of rice has increased from GH¢30 per bag to GH¢110.

Soya bean prices have also spiked from GH¢350 to GH¢550 per bag.

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