On May 11, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinated with the People’s Committee of Tay Ninh Province to organize a conference on the development of disease-free animal production chains and areas.
99% disease control
According to the Department of Animal Health, there have been seven outbreaks of avian influenza (CGC) A/H5N1 across the country since early 2023 to date. The total number of infected, dead and destroyed poultry was 9,604 birds.
Currently there has been no CGC outbreak for less than 21 days. CGC outbreaks are caused by the A/H5N1 virus scattered in the Northeast and Central Provinces and mainly occur in small poultry holdings that have not been vaccinated with the CGC vaccine.
Communities recognized and treated it in time to prevent widespread spread. Compared to the same period in 2022, both the epidemic area and the epidemic level decreased, in particular, the number of outbreaks decreased by more than 61%, the number of provinces and cities with epidemics decreased by 50%, and the number of poultry culled decreased by 82%.
conference scene. Picture: Tran Trung.
At present, the whole country has 2,230 animal production plants and areas in 55 provinces and cities that have been certified disease-free (ATDB), including farms and ATDB areas for many animal species and many diseases, including 922 poultry production plants and areas; 1,133 farms, pig farming areas and 175 other livestock farms and areas.
From early 2023 to date, companies have provided 102.8 million doses of CGC vaccine; 58 million doses are stored in the warehouse; The expected production and import in the second quarter is 133.8 million doses to ensure that the needs of disease prevention, vaccination, siege and epidemic prevention are met.
Veterinarians train poultry farmers on disease safety. Picture: Tran Trung.
Talk to newspapers NNVNMr. Nguyen Van Long, director of the Ministry of Animal Health, said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and local authorities have steered implementation to achieve some very important results in the past period.
Firstly, we have the disease situation in poultry across the country very well under control, there have only been a few small outbreaks and the vast majority (over 99.9%) of the entire population of over 550 million birds are perfectly safe from all possible diseases.
The southeastern provinces with the highest livestock production rate in the country have established very good disease-free livestock production chains and regions. Specifically, we have over 920 facilities and epidemic-free areas nationwide.
Chicken farmers implement disease safety solutions. Picture: Tran Trung.
In particular, we have recently promoted the export of animals and animal products from Vietnam to over 40 countries and regions, achieving a value of over US$400 million.
Poultry products, especially cooked poultry products, are exported to nearly 10 countries, including Japan, the Russian Federation, Hong Kong and European Union countries. The country is currently conducting an assessment and it is expected that in the near future we will be able to export to Korea.
However, in the coming period, there are many tasks that need special attention. First, we must continue to fight diseases well so that they do not appear on a large scale, especially in areas that have reached the end of the pandemic. Disease safety standards.
Second, we have achieved disease safety according to Vietnamese standards. Now, if we want to encourage exports to other countries, we need to upgrade our disease-free areas to World Organization for Animal Health (OIE/WOAH) standards.
Finally, to increase the added value of poultry products, companies and municipalities need to drive chain building, especially of deep-processed products…” stressed Mr. Nguyen Van Long.
The nationwide poultry production developed stably in the first quarter of 2023. Picture: Tran Trung.
By 2030, at least 10 counties will meet international disease safety standards
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien assessed that the prevention and control of livestock and poultry diseases has achieved many important results in the past period.
Basically, it has well controlled dangerous diseases in livestock, especially animal-human-borne diseases, nationwide in general and in Tay Ninh province in particular, creating favorable conditions for livestock production. promoting development.
Poultry flocks have experienced an average growth rate of over 6.3% over the last five years and total flocks reach more than 550 million animals. This ensures food supplies for domestic consumption, boosts exports and protects human health. human health.
Companies and breeders are taking the initiative for disease-free breeding solutions. Picture: Tran Trung.
However, the disease risk is still very high, the construction of facilities and disease-free areas is still limited, there are no facilities and areas that meet the World Organization for Animal Health disease-free standards.
Therefore, the Deputy Minister suggested that the provinces and cities should rely on the programs and plans approved by the Prime Minister; Ministry policy documents for developing concrete implementation plans.
Targets must be set for time, quality, and required results that will achieve disease-free standards in at least 4 districts by 2025 and 10 districts by 2030, in accordance with the Organization’s standards. world veterinary medicine.
To achieve this, provinces and cities need to instruct specialized agencies, municipalities and companies operating in the provinces and cities to organize a thorough study of Vietnamese regulations, World Organization for Animal Health regulations and importing countries’ requirements in order to develop specific plans and to organize the establishment of export-oriented ATDB breeding chains and regions.
Planning and development of livestock production according to production areas related to processing, preservation and product consumption markets. Promote the development of livestock farming.
Develop mechanisms and policies and provide investment funds to implement appropriate technical solutions for maintaining veterinary activities to build and maintain the ATDB region and chain. Incentives to work to support the formation of a chain of product consumption links.
Companies and breeders are taking the initiative for disease-free breeding solutions. Picture: Tran Trung.
For livestock operations, companies that have successfully built ATDB breeding facilities must continue to maintain ATDB breeding facilities.
Organize the annual evaluation and sampling of surveillance samples and ensure that the requirements for the recognition of ATDB are met according to Vietnamese regulations and according to World Organization for Animal Health standards for export-oriented animal production facilities. Export.
For animal husbandry companies that want to set up an ATDB, active coordination with veterinary medical authorities at all levels and relevant local units is required to plan and implement the development of the ATDB animal husbandry chain.
The Deputy Minister tasked the Ministry of Animal Health with guiding and assisting livestock companies and sites in successfully establishing animal production chains and ATDB regions to export animals and animal products. Organize training on regulations, expertise and techniques in building the chain, the ATDB; Establishing specific technical criteria for each component of the ATDB production chain that entities can use as a basis for application, self-examination and evaluation during the implementation of the plan; Supporting the implementation of technical measures in the construction of animal husbandry, slaughter and processing facilities that meet the standards of the World Organization for Animal Health and the requirements of other countries; Coordinate with the relevant units to ensure the successful establishment of the ATDB chain and region in accordance with the regulations of the World Organization for Animal Health so that it can be exported to other countries.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien speaks at the conference. Picture: Tran Trung.
“Vietnam aims to have at least ten more counties that are disease-free according to World Organization for Animal Health standards and meet requirements for the export of animals and animal products by 2030.
This is a perfectly achievable goal if there is the determination and consensus from companies, municipalities and relevant ministries and sectors,” said Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien.
Representatives of the heads of the ministries of agriculture and rural development of the provinces in the southern key economic region and De Heus Co., Ltd. signed a cooperation agreement to set up an export chain for chicken meat production. Picture: Tran Trung.
As part of the conference on developing disease-free livestock production chain and land, under the testimony of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, representatives of the heads of provincial agriculture and rural development ministries in key economic regions. Southern Point and De Heus Co.,Ltd. signed a cooperation agreement to build disease- and food-safe chicken production chain for export in 2023-2028.
The agreement sets out the goal of successfully establishing a chain of chicken production facilities and disease-free poultry production areas in accordance with World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH/OIE) regulations that are safe, particularly with regard to disease and food safety (e.g. avian diseases) influenza, Newcastle- disease, salmonella) to ensure sustainable development of livestock, increase product value, provide safe products for domestic consumption, and meet international demand for export poultry products.