Black chicken farming model in Long He

After more than 5 years of implementation, the safe black chicken farming model in Long He commune has yielded practical results, increasing people's income. The "Black Chicken Floss" and vacuum-packed whole black chicken products have achieved OCOP 3-star status, opening up a direction for sustainable economic development in the locality.

Farmers in Na Hem village, Long He commune, are taking care of their flock of black chickens.

Prior to the merger, in 2020, the People's Committee of Thuan Chau district encouraged livestock farmers in E Tong and Long He communes to implement a black chicken farming model, aiming to turn livestock products into marketable goods. Simultaneously, financial support was provided to participating households to visit and learn from VietGAP-certified chicken farming models inside and outside the province. As a result, the black chicken farming model in the locality has increasingly developed, bringing stable income to households.

Following the establishment of Long He commune, the linkage between cooperatives and individual chicken farmers has been further strengthened, increasing the scale of the flock. Mr. Lo Van Quy, Chairman of the People's Committee of Long He commune, shared: "The difference between raising black chickens in the mountainous Long He commune and many other localities is the semi-free-range farming method. Farmers enclose agricultural nets in their family's hillside gardens to create space for the chickens to move around; the main feed consists of corn and cassava, along with some readily available natural food sources such as worms and naturally growing grasses... thus significantly reducing the cost of raising chickens. The locality also regularly organizes training courses and transfers of farming techniques and methods for preventing and controlling diseases in chickens."

In addition, the commune has encouraged people to join cooperatives to expand the scale of their flocks; at the same time, it has requested provincial departments and agencies to provide technical support for raising, promoting, and introducing black chickens and chicken products, such as eggs and OCOP 3-star products like "Black Chicken Floss" and vacuum-packed whole black chickens, to participate in fairs organized inside and outside the province. Currently, there are 3 cooperatives in the commune linking with 50 households participating in the black chicken farming model, with a scale of 10,000 - 12,000 chickens/year, adhering to VietGAP standards. The average income of chicken farming households reaches 70-100 million VND/household/year from selling chicken meat and other chicken products.

Officials from Long Hẹ commune inspect a model black chicken farming project in Na Hem village.

Visiting the E-Farm ecological agricultural cooperative in Na Hem village, Long He commune, we found that it has 7 members and is linked with 12 households raising black chickens and Ri chickens. Ms. Lo Thi Buoi, Director of the cooperative, said: To preserve the purebred black chicken breed, the cooperative requires its members and participating households to raise black chickens and Ri chickens separately in two distinct areas; at the same time, they strictly adhere to the VietGAP process, so the product quality is highly appreciated by customers. Each year, the cooperative sells over 4,000 black chickens; 2,000 Ri chickens; and 15,000 eggs, mainly within the province and in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In addition, the cooperative also guarantees the purchase and finds outlets for chicken products for the cooperatives and households linked in the commune.

Meanwhile, at the Chà Mạy Agricultural Cooperative in Chà Mạy village, with 17 members, the cooperative currently produces 1,000-1,200 black chickens. Each year, the cooperative sells approximately 1,500 tons of chicken meat and over 500 kg of black chicken floss, generating an income of 80-100 million VND per year for each member. Mr. Thào A Hồng, Deputy Director of the cooperative, shared: Besides linking with the E-Farm ecological agricultural cooperative for processing and selling whole chickens, the cooperative also develops "Black Chicken Floss" products, achieving OCOP 3-star certification, to supply the market. To ensure product quality, the cooperative requires its members to strictly adhere to technical procedures, from caring for the flock according to VietGAP standards to processing the finished chicken products… maintaining the product's reputation with customers.

To develop a safe and sustainable black chicken farming model, Long He commune requires households and cooperatives to strictly apply VietGAP procedures in chicken farming to ensure product quality and maintain customer reputation; and to strengthen production linkages to expand the scale of farming. Currently, the locality is encouraging households in the area to participate in the model of linking the farming of indigenous black chickens with cooperatives in the area. The People's Committee of the commune has also proposed to the Party Committee to direct organizations and associations to review and support people in need of loans to quickly disburse funds to participate in the black chicken farming model. In addition, the People's Committee of the commune also requested the Economic Department and the General Service Center to review and assess the training and technology transfer needs of farmers to ensure the stable development of the model and contribute to bringing high income to the people.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/mo-hinh-nuoi-ga-den-o-long-he-V9hl0I2DR.html