The Husbandry Department has warned of a danger of meat shortage at the end of this year as many farmers in the country have given up livestock husbandry due to low demand and widespread diseases.

Nguyen Thanh Son, deputy head of the Husbandry Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture Development, said the husbandry sector is facing many challenges as meat prices have tumbled due to low demands. Pork prices have declined by 17-20% compared to early this year while poultry prices dropped by 20-25%.

Son said that economic hardship was the main cause of low meat demand, especially in industrial parks where meat consumption has fallen by 20-30%. Meanwhile, local farmers cannot export pork to China after the neighboring nation has banned imports of animal and livestock products.

“Although local farmers only export pork to China via unofficial channels, the prohibition hurts the pork supply-demand balance in Vietnam,” Son added.

Many farming zones and plantations have narrowed down animal herds or even stopped farming. If managing offices fail to give supports for farmers, the nation will suffer meat shortage in the second half of this year and last year’s meat import problems will return, Son added.

Besides, local farming establishments find it hard in accessing capital sources.

According to the department, banks are hesitant in giving loans to husbandry farms given risks of their mortgaged assets. Otherwise, they just reach small loans as land and breeding animals are not accepted as mortgages.

The department has plans to hold an online conference next week to evaluate the situation of the husbandry sector and suggest solutions for production and export.

Son said the department would propose three solutions at the meeting, including a preferential credit package for the sector, equipment import tax reduction for new investments and quarantine fee reductions within one year.

The Saigon Times Daily