Pig farming is facing challenges

​(News Portal – Dong Nai) - Recently, the pig market has continuously been in decline, with its prices often drop below production costs. However, farmers still hope that the year-end market will be better. 

In particular, the issue of environmental protection in animal husbandry is receiving special attention from local governments. Farmers are shifting towards safe farming, applying many environmental protection measures to meet the requirements of the new situation. 

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Pig farm in Thong Nhat district

Small scale livestock farming suffers financial losses
In recent months, the price of live pigs has continuously stabilized at 50-53 thousand VND/kg. For farms and small livestock facilities, the above price is lower than the cost of production, causing farmers to lose money.

Mr. Nguyen Tri Cong, Chairman of the Provincial Animal Husbandry Association commented that the current situation in Vietnam's pork market is that the price of live pigs is decreasing due to the decision of the consumer market when many companies and businesses reduce workers and production scale because of the current economic situation. Pork consumption at wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City is also slow.

However, farmers expect the pork consumption market to improve by the end of the year. According to the Provincial Animal Husbandry Association, although small-scale livestock farming has decreased sharply, large livestock corporations and enterprises are still growing, especially since the epidemic situation is controlled because Vietnam has successfully produced African Swine Fever vaccine, so there should not be a shortage of supply in the market. It is believed that it is unlikely that there will be strong fluctuations in market supply and demand.

Shifting production direction to ensure environmental protection
Expanding livestock in a sustainable way following green growth is the orientation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities in the coming time. In particular, circular livestock farming is a direction that is being encouraged to be replicated.

The owner of a pig farm in Thong Nhat District shared that farmers are currently reducing their herds due to unusual price fluctuations; animal feed prices remain expensive. Especially under the pressure of environmental treatment according to new requirements, livestock farmers must invest in building livestock waste treatment systems to much higher standards than before.

The transition to organic livestock farming involves practical solutions such as standardizing vaccination procedures and proactively implementing biological disease prevention measures rather than treatment to make the herd's resistance stronger and reduce the loss due to disease.

Mr. Nguyen Tri Cong added that in recent times, the Department of Livestock Production and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have organized many conferences and forums to propose safe livestock solutions, with a focus on environmental protection... Recently, Dong Nai province has promoted environmental inspection activities in livestock farming. This is the right thing to do, but it needs practical, for example, livestock farms that pollute the environment must stop raising livestock according to the roadmap. But local authorities have to pay attention to social security issues and create favorable conditions for livestock households that do not pollute the environment to feel secure in expanding production. ​