The Chinese Government will encourage firms to build pig farms overseas to meet the country’s increasing demand for pork products.

According to Reuters, the recent outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) eliminated almost half of the pigs in China.

According to a statement jointly released by the Chinese National Development and Reform Commissions and the agriculture ministry, the government has directed the local authorities to set up pig farms in countries from which they can export pork products back to China.

China has been adopting new measures to increase pork production and end the pork shortage.

The government has asked the companies to identify overseas locations without ASF that have stable bilateral trade relations with China.

It has also asked local authorities to secure construction materials to expand pig farms during the novel coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak.

Chinese authorities urged domestic companies to build larger pig pens and facilities for animal waste treatment on deserted land.

Beijing has also reportedly increased its efforts to combat ASF as it continues to spread through pig herds.

An executive of a major pork producer said: “Top government documents in the past usually stopped at trade, talking about buying either grains or pork from abroad but never involved raising pigs overseas.

“But then again, it also never happened in history that African swine fever has created such a big supply gap.”

China reported three new cases of ASF in the past week.