December 7, 2010

Vietnam to constrict pig exports by the border gate

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has requested the local cities and provinces to tighten pig export passing through border gates from now up to the Lunar New Year festival, or Tet.

The move came after the Department of Animal Husbandry reported that a large quantity of pigs has been exported to China via border gates, causing a shortage of meat in the domestic market.

The ministry has encouraged local farmers to boost pig and chicken breeding and companies to boost meat imports to meet soaring demand in this Tet.

Earlier, the ministry had forecast that Vietnam will lack around 40,000 tonnes of meat in this Tet.

The country will likely import 20,000 tonnes of meat this month, including pork, raising the total imported meat to 60,000 tonnes in 2010.