The average price of pork in Chinese shops has dropped 11 percent from its peak in August as the government invests billions of yuan to support the pig breeding industry.

The retail price in 36 large and medium-sized cities fell to 12.41 yuan (US$1.7) per 500 grams on Thursday, from the peak level of 13.95 yuan on Aug. 9, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Pork prices almost doubled this year due to short supply and mounting feedstuff costs, driving up the consumer price index to an 11-year-high of 6.5 percent in August.

The central and local governments will earmark a total 14.6 billion yuan (US$1.9 billion) this year to encourage farmers to raise pigs and boost pork supplies, Deputy Finance Minister Zhang Shaochun told a meeting in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province.

Zhang noted that 10.8 billion yuan, or 74 percent of the funds, comes from the central government.

The funds will subsidize insurance and breeding programs, immunization of animal diseases, including the highly pathogenic blue-ear disease, construction of farms, and a living allowance for low-income earners, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2007)