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Vietnam struck by meat shortages
If the animal breeding and feed processing industry do
not to solve its current situations soon, Le Ba Lich, chairman of the Vietnam
Animal Feed Association has warned, that Vietnam will have to import meat by
the end of this year.
Lich stated that many pig farmers, especially in
southern provinces, quit the business when feed prices sky
rocketed.
Feed pricesCurrently, the price of pig
feed is VND8,500 ($0.51) per kilogram. To produce one kilogram of pork, 2.6
kilograms of feed are needed, which costs VND22,100 ($1.34).
A kilogram
of live pig goes for VND32,000-34,000 ($1.94-$2.06) in the south and
VND28,000-30,000 ($1.70-$1.82) in the north.
Breeders can no
longer afford to continue
According to Lich, with capital used to
purchase breeding animals and animal feed which comes from loans with 20%
interest, breeders cannot afford to continue work.
In addition, blue ear
disease and bird flu have also played a role in the current meat
shortage.
Pork accounts for 80% of the country's meat consumption,
chicken 11%-12%, and beef 3%-4%.
Investments to avoid shortages
To avoid meat shortages and encourage pig farming, Lich said, the
association plans to invest in production and imports of raw materials for
animal feed production.
The association requested that banks lower
interest rates on loans, the Ministry of Finance to eliminate the value added
tax (VAT) for raw produce, the Ministry of Industry and Trade to reorganise
distribution systems.
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