Xekong to transform handful of farms into meat-producing powerhouse
Xekong to transform handful of farms into meat-producing powerhouse
Xekong province will prioritise the breeding of cattle and other livestock to be used for meat production to supply both the local market and export to neighbouring countries by 2015, taking the few small farms in the province today and rapidly up-scaling them.
“We plan to supply at least 4,648 cattle to provinces and at the borders of Laos-Vietnam by 2015,” the provincial Agricultural and Forestry Department's Livestock and Fishery Section Head, Mr Khamla Thavixay, said yesterday.
The 4,648 cattle will comprise of 1,853 cows and 2,795 buffalo. There will also be pigs, goats and poultry.
“We believe we can do that because we are now paying attention to promoting the cattle farming business to the farmers,” Mr Khamla said.
Currently, many farmers are breeding their cattle using older, natural methods and are only producing enough for family consumption and to supply the local provincial market.
“However they breed a large number of pigs and can supply to other provinces about 8,000 pigs per three months,” Mr Khamla said.
At presen t the province only has three small farms with only about 100 cows between them. The three farms are not currently registered with a business license.
“Now we are promoting them to get the license. We plan to have at least five cattle farms next year,” Mr Khamla said.
The Livestock and Fishery Section also has a veterinary doctor team that o ften visits the farmers and checks if their livestock are healthy.
The section will also encourage farmers to plant beans and grass to use as cattle feed.
“Currently the grass plantation is being tested at our Agricultural and Forestry Department centre. Once we succeed, we will supply the grass species to the farmers to grow it,” Mr Khamla said.
The province has 23 families that bread livestock at present, including 13 pig farms, five poultry, five fish breeding farms and the three cattle farms.
Xekong province, best known for its Bolaven Plateau, is situated in the heart of southeastern Laos. It shares borders with Saravan to the west, Champassak and Attapeu to the south and Vietnam to the east. It is the second smallest province in Laos and also one of the poorest.
vientiane times
