Minister orders quick but safe repopulation of pig droves

Hanoi (VNA) - Pig droves now represent 80 percent of the number just prior to the outbreak of African swine fever, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong told a conference on May 6 in Hanoi on developing pig breeding.

It will be quite difficult, however, to repopulate the remaining 20 percent in the third and fourth quarters of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted.

Speeding up breeding while ensuring safety and sustainability is a headache for the sector, he added.

The minister suggested focusing on removing difficulties facing farming households, medium-sized farms, and cooperatives, as these groups contribute up to 65 percent of the total droves and are the most vulnerable to disease.

Agricultural enterprises should strengthen coordination with farmers and cooperatives to ensure effective repopulation by strictly obeying biological safety procedures, he recommended.

 

He also asked relevant departments and banks to jointly support pig breeders to repopulate droves.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam had 24.89 million pigs as at April, down nearly 20 percent compared to the 31 million at the end of 2018.

The ministry’s Department of Animal Health reported that 16 cities and provinces nationwide are still coping with African swine fever./.