Xieng Khuang looks to livestock exports as revenue source
Xieng Khuang looks to livestock exports as revenue source
Xieng Khuang authorities plan to regulate livestock exports more closely in a bid to collect more revenue and fill the province’s coffers.
Each year, Xieng Khuang exports and sells about 15,000 head of cattle and buffaloes to Vietnam and neighbouring provinces, Director of the provincial Industry and Commerce Department Mr Khampao told Vientiane Times yesterday.
At present revenue is earned from a relatively small number of livestock sales as most trading takes place through unofficial channels, coordinated by market traders or families and friends.
The province has just set up an association to monitor the sale of livestock, aiming to regulate the trade and reduce the incidence of disease, Mr Khampao said.
The association is a government agency that will formulate measures and planning to promote livestock breeding and encourage private investment.
The province will also select a company to manage the export of livestock, Mr Khampao said.
The number of cattle in the province continues to increase each year, while the number of buffalo is decreasing, according to the provincial livestock and fisheries section.
Last year, the province had about 55,000 head of buffalo but expects the number to fall by more than 1,000 this year. The number of cattle is also expected to decline after Thathom district was transferred to neighbouring Xaysomboun province. Last year the number of cattle was estimated at 130,820.
Most farmers in Xieng Khuang still raise livestock for sale as a family business because they don’t have enough capital to expand their herds, head of the livestock and fisheries section, Mr Hongthong Phimmasa, said.
His section and associated sectors plan to develop livestock farming into a commercial industry and will draw up a strategy to encourage farmers to keep larger herds.
The strategy will include the issue of low interest long-term loans for farmers, he added.
By 2020, the province should have a medium abbatoir and also plans to ban the export of live cattle.
“We will just process beef products for export in the interests of food safety and to increase the value of beef products in Laos,” Mr Hongthong said.
Livestock and maize products comprise about 70-80 percent of the export value of Xieng Khuang province.
vientiane times
