April 17, 2006

Thai agribusiness Betagro expands investments in Vietnam

Thailand's Betagro Group is planning to expand its investments in animal feed and other farm businesses in Vietnam this year after its success in Dong Nai province, a local newspaper reported Friday (Apr 14).

The company entered into a shrimp feed and animal-health business with Thai Luxe Enterprise in Dong Nai, three years ago.

Encouraged by the venture's stellar performance, Betagro is now considering new investments in the area.

Nopporn Vayuchote, the group's executive vice-president, said the company is now ready to have a stronger presence in the integrated farm businesses such as livestock, animal feed and food industries.

Plans are underway to set up a quality swine breeding centre in the province to produce high-quality pig feed and research genetics to breed pigs with less fat to supply the Vietnamese market.

The company's expansion into this field would bring about greater convenience to farmers as they can now buy high-yield, lean-meat piglets to raise instead of developing their own piglets, he said.

Vietnam has around 27 million pigs, most of them raised in backyards and on small farms. Many of them are Yorkshire and Duroc breeding stock bought from the US and Australia.

Betagro owns 7 feed milling operations and produces 1.5 million tonnes of feed a year. Besides the swine business, it is also involved in the poultry, animal health and land development business.