Saravan eyes annual increase in piglet breeding
Saravan eyes annual increase in piglet breeding
The agricultural research centre of Saravan province looks to produce over 700 to 800 piglets annually to ensure sufficient meat supply for local consumers.
Director of the Nongdeng Agricultural Research Centre, Mr Somxay Keovongsa, recently told media representatives the centre now set a target of 700 piglets to supply the demand of local markets.
“Our centre is now working on research and breeding piglets to meet the demand of local markets as well as neighbouring provinces,” he said, noting that the centre is able to produce around 700 to 750 piglets per year.
According to Mr Somxay, the centre is able to supply about 60 to 70 percent of piglets in the province, while the remaining 30 percent will be imported from Champasak and Savannakhet provinces.
He said the centre produced a total of 734 piglets this year or a 100 pe rcent equivalent of the year plan.
However, the centre is still trying to breed more piglets to ensure supply to neighbouring provinces.
“Breeding of piglets will be a key factor in food security within the province and enables local pig breeders to earn an income,” Mr Somxay said.
He added the centre also eyes to increase breeding to sell their meat to the neighbouring provinces of Xekong and Attapeu in the years to come.
Currently, one piglet is sold at 500,000 kip, weighing 8 to 10 kg.
In addition, the centre also produces fingerlings, cattle and rice seedlings to sell to farmers within the province.
The National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute provides a total of 2,4 billion kip to improve the centre and the provincial sector also granted a total of 120 million kip to improve pig shelters ensuring proper spaces and proper growth.
Saravan province has potential benefit from agricultural production and animal husbandry, because of its geographic position and the abundance of high quality agricultural soil.
