Cutting China’s Pork Prices Means Reining in Millions of Farmers

China’s success in bringing down the price of pork could hinge on how effectively central government manages a sprawling sector that still numbers millions of family farmers.

A surge in the cost of China’s staple meat has officials worried about inflation, which grew faster than expected in June. Among the measures employed to cool the market, the National Development and Reform Commission has summoned the big breeding firms to tell them they mustn’t stoke gains by restricting output or hoarding in anticipation of higher prices.