According to Hoang Kim Giao, Head of Livestock Production Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the sector will draw up a national plan for producing fodder across the country.

 

The sector is currently creating policies to encourage localities to grow grass on 2-5% of agricultural land, provide 100% of the initial different varieties for provinces and give farmers access to loans with preferential interests, he added.

 

The animal husbandry sector plays a key role in the rural economy although its turnover makes up only 26-27% of agriculture value each year, said Do Kim Tuyen, Head of the Department of Livestock Breedings Cattle Office.

 

Apart from providing natural fodder for animals and fertiliser for the agricultural industry as well as food, the sector intends to generate jobs, increase farmers incomes to help ensure food security, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, said Tuyen.

 

The rapid development of the dairy sector over the past 10 years has helped to reduce imports of milk by 15%.

 

According to Tuyen, the output of grass and its quality still remain low due to the out of date methods of breeding and cultivation and the fact that stock mainly graze on natural pastures. He added that the areas planted with grass can only meet 10% of the fodder needed for animal breeding.

 

Moreover, the shortage of grass has led to poor animal breeding although grass, animal-feed crops and agricultural by-products come to between 60-70 million tonnes per year.