Meat imports could rise for Tet

Meat imports could rise for Tet

The livestock industry is seeking ways to ensure a sufficient volume of meat for next year's Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, as stock has fallen this year, according to the Livestock Department.

Since April, the livestock industry has faced several difficulties, forcing many farmers out of business.

The price of animal feed has continued to rise, but meat prices have remained about the same.

Live pigs have been selling for VND35,000 to 38,000 per kilo; chicken for around 22,000 per kilo; and eggs for VND1,650 each.

The number of live pigs and poultry has fallen by 3 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively, according to the General Statistics Office.

Independent market experts are worried about insufficient supplies of meat products later this year.

Pham Minh Bau, deputy director of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Dong Nai Province, has the highest number of livestock farms in the country. He said there was a plentiful supply in that locality.

Although several pig farms have closed, the locality's pig herd still numbers 1.3 million, two million more than last year's figure, Bau said, adding that the weight of each pig was also higher.

However, poultry production at both small and big poultry farms in the province had fallen dramatically.

"The number of live poultry in the province is only 30 per cent of what we had during the same period last year, so supplies for Tet are expected to fall," said Pham Duc Binh, director of Thanh Binh Company.

Vu Manh Hung, chairman of the Binh Phuoc Province's Poultry Association, said Indonesia-based Japfa Comfeed Company in Binh Phuoc Province had asked member farms to raise only two brood of chickens a year rather than four or five.

Some other companies also have plans to reduce the number of chicken in order to cut costs.

"These changes would affect supply of chicken for the market with a drop estimated to be 50 per cent for the rest of the year," Hung said.

Nguyen Thanh Son, deputy director of the Livestock Department, said there would likely be a shortage of chicken for the rest of the year but it would not be a serious problem since purchases were expected to rise by only 8 to 10 per cent, much lower than the 18-20 per cent in previous years.

To ensure supplies, a large volume of chicken would be imported, Son said.

"In coming months, about 240,000 and 250,000 tonnes of domestically-produced meat and 40,000 tonnes of imported meat will be sold on the market each month," he said.

"The department is collecting information about supply and demand of food, particularly meat, from localities to draw up specific plans to be sure there is enough food for Tet, said Nguyen Xuan Duong, another deputy director of the Livestock Department.

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