Finding solutions to restore the dairy industry

After many years of strong development, exporting Vietnamese dairy products to more than 50 countries, the domestic dairy cow herd is seriously declining, posing an urgent need for recovery solutions.

Overview of the discussion. Photo: Bao Thang

On September 23, Agriculture and Environment Newspaper in collaboration with the Vietnam Animal Husbandry Association and the Vietnam Large Livestock Association organized a seminar on "Current situation and solutions to restore the development of dairy cow herds".

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Duong, Chairman of the Vietnam Animal Husbandry Association, said that the dairy industry has achieved many impressive achievements, with productivity increasing from 8 - 9 liters/day to 20 - 25 liters/day, with products exported to the US, Japan and more than 50 countries.

However, since 2018 and especially after 2020, the dairy cow herd has declined sharply. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, from more than 103,000 cows, there are now only about 35,000 cows.

While the milk market is increasingly vibrant with thousands of businesses, domestic livestock farming is weakening, creating a paradox of "processing industry developing, domestic raw materials shrinking".

Experts warn that if there is no strategy soon, the risk of losing the achievements built over decades is very high, because dairy cows have a long cycle, and one mistake can take 10 years to correct.

At the seminar, opinions proposed strengthening sustainable links between farmers and purchasing and processing enterprises; building transparent and mutually beneficial value chains. This is considered a key solution to restore dairy cow herds, towards a sustainable dairy industry, associated with the Vietnam Dairy Industry Development Strategy to 2030, vision 2045 that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is submitting to the Government.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tim-giai-phap-phuc-hoi-nganh-bo-sua-10387646.html