Catching up with the shifting hi-tech livestock trend

Small and scattered livestock production is no longer suitable in the current context as many diseases have appeared, demanding higher environmental and food safety standards.

Therefore, the relocation of small livestock establishments in areas where livestock are not allowed in cities, towns, townships and residential areas is an inevitable trend. While many localities are struggling to implement relocation plans, Binh Phuoc has implemented it very early and confidently anticipates the relocation trend.

According to the Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in April 2021, after the Government's Decree No. 13/2020/ND-CP detailing the Law on Livestock came into effect, the total local pig herd increases to over 1,457,000 pigs, by June 2023 the whole province has nearly 2 million pigs, with an estimated meat output of 250,000 tons. This makes Binh Phuoc the province with the fastest herd growth in the country.

Notably, the rate of livestock production by farm accounts for over 93%. Most of the farms in Binh Phuoc have decided to apply high technology and automate all production stages closely from input to output. Consequently, this creates value chains or joins product chain links.

Mr. Tran Van Phuong, Deputy Director of Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that in order to get the results like today, the whole process of policy formulation, planning, and development strategy has to be precise from the beginning of the province.

Besides the advantage of having a sizeable clean land fund, Binh Phuoc has gradually improved the transportation system, developed industrial, commercial, service, infrastructure, and implemented many preferential policies to attract investment. Consequently, this creates momentum for agriculture in general, and livestock industry in particular.

First of all, since 2008 Binh Phuoc has planned to develop livestock in the direction of modern industry and gradually reduce small-scale livestock production. Secondly, the province has also issued policies to attract development investment, in which there is the livestock sector. The province has also promoted investment promotion, supported infrastructure such as electricity lines to livestock areas and provided quick support in investment procedures, promptly communicate with businesses, remove difficulties and obstacles in the spirit of being for business and accompanying businesses.

At the same time, the province also pays keen attention to building and organizing the implementation of prevention programs and plans in order to prevent plagues to ensure a stable epidemic state. Businesses can rest assured to invest in livestock in the province.

According to Mr. Tran Van Phuong, the most outstanding result is that Binh Phuoc's livestock industry is currently developing in the right direction of industrial animal husbandry with modern technology and chained production. Accordingly, Binh Phuoc has also attracted about VND 24,000 billion in livestock production with about 150 large businesses and leading livestock corporations coming to invest.

Specifically, 4/6 projects of animal feed factories with a capacity of 2.3 million tons/year have come into operation. Binh Phuoc also formed a number of production linkage chains, creating safe livestock products. For example, a chain of safe pork and chicken for export with an investment scale of over $230 million.

In orientation for livestock development in the coming time, Binh Phuoc sets a target that by 2025, the total pig herd will be over 2.7 million, the poultry herd will be over 18 million, the herd of buffaloes and cows will be over 60,000; By 2030, the pig herd will be over 3.2 million, the poultry herd will be over 27 million, and the buffalo herd will be over 70,000.

“One of the overarching solutions is to promote the construction of disease-free zones. According to the province's plan, by 2030, Binh Phuoc province will successfully build a disease-free cattle and poultry breeding area that meets export conditions. Binh Phuoc strives to become a centre for exporting animals and animal products of the whole country”, emphasized Mr. Tran Van Phuong.