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With Vietnam’s rapid economic growth and expanding urban population, the demand for food has also increased rapidly in recent years. Poultry is an important source of animal protein in the country. According to data from the Hanoi Department of Trade in 2014, Vietnam’s capital Hanoi consumes approximately 4.65 million kg of poultry meat per month. Many individual families operate their own small and medium-sized parent stock farms or hatcheries to meet the huge urban demand and earn additional income. To support these small and medium-sized poultry farmers, FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) in Vietnam and the Department of Livestock Production (DLP) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have developed basic biosecurity standards for small and medium-sized parent stock farms and hatcheries. The initial assessment phase and pilot project were funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). By implementing simple measures in 12 pilot farms in Quang Tri and Can Tho provinces, farmers have made significant changes to their operations and working environment while protecting their flocks from diseases such as avian influenza. FAO is currently working with the World Poultry Foundation to capture lessons learned and reach more farmers across Vietnam, aiming to find sustainable solutions for hatchery improvements across the country.
Creating a healthier environment for poultry and farmers
FAO’s poultry value chain assessment program shows that small and medium-sized poultry breeder farms and hatcheries in Vietnam lack guidance and expertise to implement and manage clean and safe farming. Poor biosecurity conditions not only lead to low product quality, but also cause pathogen transmission, environmental pollution and health threats to workers.
In fact, since 2003, poor biosecurity in poultry farms has been identified as one of the factors contributing to the emergence and spread of H5N1 HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza), threatening food safety in Vietnam’s poultry value chain.
Although the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam provides Vietnam GAHP (Vietnam Good Animal Husbandry Practices) biosecurity guidelines for large farms in Vietnam, these guidelines are not applicable to small and medium-sized poultry farms and hatcheries.
Introducing simple, practical and actionable biosecurity measures for a safer and cleaner hatchery
As part of the pilot project, 12 duck farms and hatcheries in Quang Tri and Can Tho provinces implemented 15 simple biosecurity measures. These included introducing new feeders and low-cost duck nests, separating duck flocks from farmers’ living areas, implementing improved hygiene measures such as egg fumigation, and adopting more effective management practices.
After just three months, the farmers’ lives had changed significantly. Egg production and quality had improved. Mr Son, who was involved in the project, noted that after implementing the new biosecurity measures, he was able to increase the hatchability of 850 laying ducks, ultimately producing 2,245 more ducks in two and a half months, and generating an additional income of $530.
In addition, the overall health of the flock has improved, with fewer cases of diarrhoea and a lower culling rate for laying ducks. Farmers have also noticed a more pleasant working environment, with the farms being cleaner and smelling better.
During the three months of the project, hatchery owners received an additional income of between US$271 and US$4,327 from improved hatchability. The improved survival rate of ducks during the first week of life also improved the hatchery’s reputation among buyers, which in turn increased business.
All of these changes have reduced working hours for local farmers and improved their quality of life.
Training for Establish a good Biosecurity at the beginning of the poultry value chain
Based on the successful results of the pilot project, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development officially released the “Guidelines on Minimum Biosecurity Measures for Small and Medium-sized Hatcheries” and the “Guidelines on Minimum Biosecurity Measures for Small and Medium-sized Poultry Breeder Farms”.
In 12 pilot farms in Viet Nam, establishing good biosecurity practices at the beginning of the poultry value chain has had a positive impact. FAO and its partners recognize that training is key to ensuring continued success. Training and promotional videos will be used to increase farmer awareness and expose more farmers to simple farm management practices that can improve their livelihoods by increasing productivity, reducing disease and improving food safety. In addition, FAO, in collaboration with the World Poultry Foundation, has developed a training manual that will be rolled out to a wider group of small hatchery owners across Viet Nam.
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