Meizhou, which supplies a bulk of live pigs in Guangdong Province, started subsidizing local farmers to encourage them to raise pigs.

From August 17, a total of 66,000 pig-breeders in the city can get 50 yuan for keeping each fertile female pig. The move is part of the province's efforts to raise long-term pig supplies to cope with the acute pork shortage in the market.

Meizhou is one of the cities that host pig farms run by Hong Kong people. The other three cities are Shaoguan, Yangjiang and Zhanjiang.

(HK Edition 08/22/2007 page6)