Thai Nguyen paves the way for startups from high-tech livestock production

Support in capital and human resources

After merging with Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen province has opened up new development space, covering 837,000 ha, a population of over 1.7 million people, and 92 commune-level administrative units. With favorable natural conditions, the new Thai Nguyen province possesses rich resources, including fertile land, abundant water sources, and a diverse ecosystem, facilitating the province's agricultural production development.

Farm-scale livestock production has developed rapidly, gradually replacing small household operations. Thai Nguyen province currently has 135,000 buffaloes and cows, 888,000 pigs, and 20 million poultry. Across the province, there are more than 1,679 livestock farms, with 183 facilities certified under VietGAHP standards.

According to Mr. Do Dinh Trung, Deputy Director of the Sub-Department of Livestock Production, Animal Health and Fisheries under the Thai Nguyen Department of Agriculture and Environment, in addition to investments from major livestock enterprises and corporations, the province strongly encourages high-tech livestock production models initiated by young people with startup aspirations. Mr. Trung emphasized that capital and human resources are the two critical factors for startups in high-tech livestock production.

"Thai Nguyen has issued resolutions on investment and development of high-tech agriculture associated with the OCOP program and key products. This has helped mobilize state and socialized resources to support newly established production units. The Department of Agriculture and Environment has also advised the Provincial People’s Committee to organize business–farm connection conferences," Mr. Trung noted.

In addition, Thai Nguyen province is exploring cooperation with institutes and universities to establish training and technology-transfer centers for livestock production. This initiative aims to build a young, high-quality workforce to support the sustainable development of the livestock sector.

Proposals for support in slaughterhouse construction and farmland fund expansion

As a new participant in the livestock product processing segment, Nga My Cattle Breeding and Agricultural Production Service Cooperative in Phu Binh commune has introduced processed product lines to the market, including dried beef, beef sausages, pork sausages, beef roll, pork roll, beef ham, pork ham, beef meatballs, pork meatballs, and grilled patties.

Notably, the cooperative’s products have obtained food safety certification and carry full labeling, product codes, and traceability barcodes. As a result, in 2024, three products, including beef ham, pork ham, and dried beef, were recognized as 3-star OCOP products by the Phu Binh District People's Committee.

In addition to investing in modern workshops and processing lines, the cooperative also pays attention to distribution and product promotion. However, the cooperative currently faces challenges related to slaughterhouses due to limited capital and resources.

"To ensure disease safety, we hope authorities will create favorable conditions and provide support for the cooperative to build a standard-compliant slaughterhouse. This would allow us to develop a closed production chain to supply high-quality products to the market," proposed Mr. Duong Van Hong from the Nga My Cattle Breeding and Agricultural Production Services Cooperative.

Meanwhile, Mr. Au Xuan Huu, owner of a white-chicken farm with a scale of 10,000 heads in Nam Hoa commune, wishes that the Thai Nguyen Department of Agriculture and Environment, together with local government, would introduce support policies to expand the land fund for livestock production. Thus, startup farms could scale up their livestock operations and improve profitability.

To promote the application of science and technology in agricultural production, Thai Nguyen will continue to increase investment and socialize scientific and technological research activities in livestock production, following an approach that combines fundamental and applied research. At the same time, the province will implement technical standards and norms for the management and quality control of agricultural products, in line with international practices and in response to the demands of both domestic and export markets.

In the coming period, the livestock sector of Thai Nguyen province, known as the land of premium tea, will orient toward transitioning from household-based, dispersed farming to farm-scale operations, forming key livestock production zones, applying science and technology, fostering innovation, and promoting digital transformation. At the same time, the province also aims to expand circular agriculture models that are climate-resilient and low-emission.