Perfecting the system of standards and technical regulations for raw materials and dairy products

The sharp decline in dairy cow herds has pushed back Vietnam's dairy industry, creating an urgent need to restore production through policies and transparent standards.

Vietnam’s dairy industry is facing a worrying period of decline. Not only is the number of cows decreasing, milk production is also declining, especially in the smallholder sector – which has been the foundation of the industry for many years.

Chairman of the Vietnam Animal Husbandry Association Nguyen Xuan Duong said that as long as the market is transparent and consumers can clearly distinguish between real milk and true nutritional value, domestic dairy cows will flock back, without the need for overly large policies. Photo: Duy Hoc.

To restore the dairy herd, Chairman of the Vietnam Livestock Association Nguyen Xuan Duong said that it is necessary to start with a synchronization in thinking and development strategy. Accordingly, the domestic dairy herd development strategy must be closely and effectively linked with the Vietnam dairy industry development strategy for the period 2026 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, which the Ministry of Industry and Trade is submitting to the Prime Minister.

“If we want the dairy industry to develop properly, the driving force must come from domestic dairy farming. We do not have as much space for dairy cows as temperate countries, but we have a huge advantage in terms of grass biomass and an abundant rural labor force. This is the foundation for developing the domestic dairy herd,” Mr. Duong emphasized.

According to him, when the dairy industry develops based on domestic fresh milk sources, it not only creates quality products for consumers, but also creates sustainable livelihoods, creates jobs for farmers, thereby promoting the full potential of Vietnamese agriculture .

The second solution that the Chairman of the Vietnam Animal Husbandry Association especially emphasized is to perfect the system of standards and technical regulations on raw materials and dairy products in a scientific , transparent, and easy-to-understand direction.

Mr. Duong shared: “Many people working in the dairy farming industry believe that farmers are ready. As long as the market is transparent, consumers can clearly distinguish between real milk and true nutritional value, then domestic dairy cows will flock back, without the need for too big policies.”

According to him, when consumers are aware of the nutritional value of milk - especially fresh milk, market demand will naturally increase. The pull from that market will create a direct driving force for the dairy industry to recover and develop.

The third solution is that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and localities need to urgently summarize and evaluate the 5-year implementation of the Livestock Development Strategy, including the content on dairy cows. This evaluation aims to clearly identify "bottlenecks" and promptly issue policies to restore dairy cow herds in the household farming sector - a very special advantage of Vietnam.

From a general perspective, Mr. Duong affirmed that if ministries, branches and localities truly see the problem and are determined to coordinate, Vietnam can completely restore the dairy herd quickly, without even having to focus on "restructuring" in a rigid way, but through unified awareness and action.

From production practice, Mr. Ha Van Long, Vinh Thinh Dairy Cow Breeding Cooperative (Vinh Phu Commune, Phu Tho Province) said that the key solution for farmers to feel secure in sticking with dairy cows for a long time is to develop a cooperative model associated with enterprises.

By participating in the chain, dairy farmers will be assured of output, can buy feed at cheaper prices, and have more convenient access to technical and veterinary services. Photo: Duy Hoc.

According to Mr. Long, when the cooperative is strong enough, it is completely possible to expand to on-site processing services, such as making yogurt and fresh milk products to serve the local market. “In fact, people have made yogurt for family use. If there is a systematic organization and links with businesses, the value chain will be raised to a new level,” Mr. Long shared.

Not only that, when participating in the chain, farmers will be assured of output, buy food at cheaper prices, and have more convenient access to technical and veterinary services. However, for the cooperative to operate effectively, Mr. Long hopes that the State will provide more support in terms of capital and financial mechanisms, especially during the herd restoration phase.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Duong also affirmed that dairy farming without cooperatives cannot develop sustainably. Because milk is a product that "must be sold every day", unlike meat or egg farming that can be flexible in timing. When many households join together to form cooperatives, businesses can feel secure in investing in raw material areas, purchasing systems, cold tanks, and technology transfer. Through cooperatives, businesses can easily agree on purchasing and support policies, while farmers can share risks, reduce input costs, and improve their position in the market.

Besides, the role of industry associations must also be recognized as extremely important in updating scientific and technological advances, world trends and policy connections.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/hoan-thien-he-thong-tieu-chuan-quy-chuan-ky-thuat-nguyen-lieu-va-san-pham-sua-d788189.html