BEIJING — Pork prices in China went down last month, official data showed.

The average pork price index in 16 provincial-level regions tracked by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was 16.79 yuan (about $2.65) per kg in February, down 13.1 percent month-on-month.

The price index dropped 55.2 percent compared with the same period last year, narrowing by 2.4 percentage points from the previous month's decrease.

The National Development and Reform Commission announced last month that pork would be stockpiled to replenish state reserves, as the national average of pork prices against grain prices had dropped below a warning level.

Stockpiling work has begun in provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Jiangxi, Hubei and Chongqing. Other areas will start the work soon, according to the commission.

Livestock farms and households are advised to make reasonable decisions on production and operation to maintain the stability of hog production capacity.