Billion-dollar cow breeding project, after 10 years there are still no cows, only... endless pineapple trees

The barn at the Binh Ha cow breeding project is currently empty, with no cows raised - Photo: LE MINH

On May 14, at the cattle breeding and raw material tree planting project in Ha Tinh of Binh Ha Livestock Joint Stock Company in Cam Quan commune (Cam Xuyen district, Ha Tinh), it was noted that a series of abandoned livestock barns were located here, with no cows being raised here.

The abandoned barns have shown signs of deterioration. The corrugated iron roof is damaged and rusty; a series of machines have been left unused for a long time.

The barns at the project have degraded, the corrugated iron roof is damaged and rusted - Photo: LE MINH

Lands that were previously planted with grass and bananas are now covered with the green of pineapple plants. Many seasonal workers are hired to take care of these raw materials. Some other areas of land in the project are planted with cassava.

A man who works as a security guard here said he has worked here for more than 10 years since the project was implemented. Currently, he mainly works as a guard for machinery, equipment, and barns.

According to this guard, for many months the project's barns have been empty, with no cows raised. Recently, a business came to survey with the intention of joining forces to raise pigs.

"From around mid-2024, many areas of the project's land will be linked by the company with a unit in the North to grow pineapple raw materials," said this security guard.

Machinery at the project has not been used for a long time - Photo: LE MINH

According to Mr. Vo Phi Long - General Director of Binh Ha Livestock Joint Stock Company - the unit is currently planning to raise cows, expected to raise 5,000 cows in the third quarter of this year at the farm in Ky Anh district, and at the farm in Cam Xuyen district, it is expected to contact another unit to raise pigs.

According to Mr. Long, the unit is cooperating with Dong Giao Food Export Joint Stock Company ( Ninh Binh province) to grow pineapple on an area of ​​about 160 hectares, of which about 70 hectares are in Cam Xuyen district and about 90 hectares are in Ky Anh district.

"The pineapple plant is suitable for the soil so it grows well. The harvest cycle is about 16-18 months, so some areas planted early have started to bear fruit. Hopefully, this plant will bring high efficiency," Mr. Long added.

Pineapple trees are grown in abundance at the billion-dollar cattle breeding project - Photo: LE MINH

The project of raising cattle and growing raw materials in Ha Tinh of Binh Ha Livestock Joint Stock Company was approved by the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province in April 2015. The total investment capital is 4,582 billion VND; the land area used is 2,163 hectares in the two districts of Ky Anh and Cam Xuyen, with a scale of 254,200 cows/year.

However, the project later failed to operate effectively, suffered losses, and the company's leadership was prosecuted. By 2021, the company had developed a restructuring plan and proposed project adjustments.

Accordingly, the scale of raising cows will be reduced to 35,000, adding the scale of growing pineapples, bananas, corn, fruit trees, grass, medicinal herbs... expected to be over 934 hectares; land area will be reduced to 1,227 hectares; total investment capital will be reduced to 1,800 billion VND.

LE MINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/du-an-chan-nuoi-bo-nghin-ti-sau-10-nam-van-khong-co-con-bo-nao-chi-co-bat-ngan-cay-dua-20250515084457823.htm