Vietnam: feed costs impact meat industry

Feed prices cause for concern
Lich stated that many pig farmers,
especially in southern provinces, quit the business when feed prices sky
rocketed.

Currently, the price of pig feed is VND8,500 (US$0.51) per
kilogram. To produce one kilogramme of pork, 2.6 kilogrammes of feed are needed,
which costs VND22,100 ($1.34).

A kilogramme of live pig goes for VND32,000 ($1.94) -34,000
($2.06) in the south and VND28,000 ($1.70) – 30,000 ($1.82) in
the north.

 

Breeders can no longer afford
work
According to Lich, with capital used to buy 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.