Final article: Development linked to environmental protection

Over 50 years of construction and development, Tien Giang's livestock industry has not only grown strongly in scale and production, but has also made its mark with solid progress in environmental protection, disease control, and food safety.

Lesson 1: Remarkable Development

Lesson 2: Enhancing Value

In the context of climate change, environmental pollution, and increasing demands from domestic and international markets, livestock waste management has become a mandatory criterion for sustainable development. Therefore, Tien Giang province recognized this issue early on and took systematic steps to address it.

WASTE PLANNING AND TREATMENT

According to the Provincial Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, waste management in livestock farming is identified as a crucial issue for the sustainable development of the livestock industry. Therefore, since 2003, the agricultural sector has participated in the Biogas Development Project (Netherlands), the QSEAP Project, and the Low Carbon Agriculture Support Project (LCASP).

Poultry manure treatment system using microbial composting tanks (large-scale farms).

As a result, nearly 12,000 biogas plants have been built to date, helping livestock farmers utilize waste to generate clean energy for daily life and production, minimizing environmental pollution and saving costs.

In addition, medium and large-scale farms are also guided to build microbial composting tanks to produce organic fertilizer, which both reduces environmental waste and creates additional economic value from livestock by-products. For small-scale farms and households, the livestock industry encourages the application of simple but effective solutions such as: raising livestock on ecological bedding, composting manure using EM biological products, and treating manure with black soldier fly larvae. These solutions are not only suitable for the economic conditions of households but also ensure biosafety, minimizing the spread of pathogens and odors into the surrounding environment.

Furthermore, one of the key strategies helping Tien Giang develop a sustainable livestock industry is to implement planning and reorganize production into concentrated, specialized, and controlled zones.

In addition, based on the 2018 Livestock Law and its guiding decrees, the province has issued many policies, including Resolution 30/2020 dated December 10, 2020, of the Provincial People's Council, which clearly stipulates that livestock farming is not allowed in the inner city areas of cities, towns, and residential areas to prevent the spread of disease and environmental pollution.

At the same time, the province has also implemented the policy of planning and building a 200-hectare concentrated livestock farming area in Thanh Hoa commune, Tan Phuoc district. The concentrated livestock farming area in Thanh Hoa commune is being formed and attracting investment; the development orientation is to promote livestock farming models according to VietGAP standards, applying high technology, ensuring food safety and environmental friendliness.

Planning for livestock farming areas not only facilitates state management but also helps improve product quality, attract investment, and effectively control diseases in the region.

SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT

To develop the livestock industry comprehensively, efficiently, and sustainably, in addition to applying advanced science and technology to livestock farming, the industry also focuses on disease prevention, control, and management with the motto: Proactive - Effective - Safe.

A model of high-tech chicken farming in Tien Giang province. Photo provided by the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine.

According to the Provincial Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, during the development of the industry, Tien Giang has faced many serious disease outbreaks causing significant losses. These include: the avian influenza outbreak from late 2003 to early 2004, causing losses of over 329 billion VND; the swine fever outbreak in 2010, resulting in the culling of nearly 2,900 tons of pigs; the African swine fever outbreak in 2019, affecting 6,099 households and resulting in the culling of nearly 10,000 tons of pigs; and lumpy skin disease in buffaloes and cattle in 2021, resulting in the culling of over 3.7 tons of livestock...

However, thanks to the decisive and timely direction from the Provincial People's Committee, along with the involvement of the Veterinary Department and local authorities, disease prevention and control efforts have shown significant improvement. To date, the province has achieved outstanding results such as: the vaccination rate for livestock and poultry remains stable at over 75% of the total herd; all outbreaks are detected early and handled efficiently, with no further widespread outbreaks occurring; and there have been no cases of rabies in humans or dogs since 2018.

Notably, Tien Giang is also one of the pioneering localities in applying rapid testing techniques to detect and handle sick pigs promptly. At the same time, the province organizes extensive training down to the hamlet level, helping people master disease prevention knowledge and choose appropriate vaccines based on the results of annual pathogen surveillance.

Simultaneously, strict control over animal transportation and quarantine is implemented. The livestock industry also closely cooperates with the health sector in preventing zoonotic diseases and provides free disinfectants to high-risk areas.

From relying on traditional folk remedies for disease prevention, Tien Giang province has now combined the application of information technology, managing livestock herds using software, and tracing product origins, helping to control diseases effectively and quickly.

In addition, relevant authorities have intensified propaganda efforts to raise community awareness about: the harmful effects of diseases and antibiotic abuse; the importance of farm hygiene and biosecurity; and the effectiveness of safe, integrated livestock farming. These positive changes have spread to individual livestock farmers, thereby creating a responsible production community ready to innovate and adapt to the requirements of sustainable development in the new era.

Building on the foundation already achieved, the livestock industry in Tien Giang province continues to aim for sustainable development in terms of environment, economic efficiency, disease safety, international integration, application of science and technology, and digital transformation in livestock management, environment, and supply chain. Ms. Ho Huynh Mai, Deputy Head of the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine of Tien Giang province, stated:

“In the coming period, to ensure the continued development of the province's livestock industry, the industry will create favorable conditions for organizations and individuals to access the province's preferential policies in the field of livestock farming; replicate effective livestock farming models from the results of provincial science and technology projects. Especially, proper waste treatment in livestock farming will be ensured.”

The sector is promoting the application and transfer of scientific and technological advancements in livestock farming; applying information technology in livestock management and animal disease prevention and control. Simultaneously, it is building and registering trademarks through trademark certification or geographical indications, applying product traceability systems for black chickens, bantam chickens, and other poultry products; and implementing the annual animal disease prevention and control plan approved by the Provincial People's Committee in the most effective way.

The development of Tien Giang's livestock industry over the past 50 years is not just about increasing herd size or production, but about a comprehensive transformation in mindset, methods, and direction. With a development orientation closely linked to environmental protection and disease control, in this new phase, the industry continues to move steadily forward, becoming one of the leading areas in building a modern, safe, green, clean, and sustainable livestock industry, ready for international integration.

HỮU THÔNG

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/kinh-te/202507/nganh-chan-nuoi-huong-phat-trien-ben-vung-than-thien-voi-moi-truong-bai-cuoi-phat-trien-gan-voi-bao-ve-moi-truong-1046360/