Higher pork prices in China along an increase in the value of Chineseyuan have led to an increase in the unofficial export of live pigs fromViet Nam to the neighbouring country.
Nguyen MinhCuong, head of the Mong Cai Animal Quarantine Station, said in recentmonths, about 40-50 trucks transported pigs to a place near the Mong CaiBorder Gate everyday. These were then taken to China by boats.
About 500 tonnes of pig were unofficially exported to China a day, he said.
"It appears that pigs are not only bought from northern provinces ,but also from the south, including HCM City , Binh Duong and DongThap provinces," he added.
Truck owners as well as pigtraders had found several ways to take their pigs across the border, andit was difficult for concerned agencies to prevent them, he added.
According to experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (MARD), the new practice was in direct contrast to theprevious years, when there used to be a massive influx of pork and livepigs from China into Viet Nam in the later months of the year.
Chinese traders have been increasingly buying pigs from Viet Nam , especially those weighing between 80-120 kilos each.
There are different views on the increase in export of pigs to China. While some fear that it will cause a shortage of pork in the domesticmarket for the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival, others have saidit is a good opportunity for breeders to earn higher profits, creating amomentum for the local husbandry industry to develop further.
Hoang Kim Giao, head of the Animal Husbandry Department, said therewere an estimated 27.3 million pigs nationwide by the end of 2010,yielding about three million tonnes of pork, an increase of more than 3per cent over 2009.
Poultry output in 2010 also increasedby nearly 100,000 tonnes to 615,000 tonnes. In addition, output of beefand buffalo in 2010 was 6 and 6.5 percent higher than that in 2009.
"Demand for meat of all kinds is expected to increase by 20 percentthis Tet, and the animal husbandry industry can meet the demand.Therefore, there will be no shortage of meat before, during and afterTet," he said.
MARD deputy minister Diep Kinh Tan askedpig traders to reduce unofficial exports to China to ensure supplyin the local market for the nation's largest holiday, saying that fromnow until Tet, which falls early February, pig traders should onlyexport a total of 10,000 tonnes of live pigs.
The ministrywould increase checks on import and export of meat products in thecoming time, with a focus on ensuring sufficient local supply, hesaid./.
Nguyen MinhCuong, head of the Mong Cai Animal Quarantine Station, said in recentmonths, about 40-50 trucks transported pigs to a place near the Mong CaiBorder Gate everyday. These were then taken to China by boats.
About 500 tonnes of pig were unofficially exported to China a day, he said.
"It appears that pigs are not only bought from northern provinces ,but also from the south, including HCM City , Binh Duong and DongThap provinces," he added.
Truck owners as well as pigtraders had found several ways to take their pigs across the border, andit was difficult for concerned agencies to prevent them, he added.
According to experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (MARD), the new practice was in direct contrast to theprevious years, when there used to be a massive influx of pork and livepigs from China into Viet Nam in the later months of the year.
Chinese traders have been increasingly buying pigs from Viet Nam , especially those weighing between 80-120 kilos each.
There are different views on the increase in export of pigs to China. While some fear that it will cause a shortage of pork in the domesticmarket for the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival, others have saidit is a good opportunity for breeders to earn higher profits, creating amomentum for the local husbandry industry to develop further.
Hoang Kim Giao, head of the Animal Husbandry Department, said therewere an estimated 27.3 million pigs nationwide by the end of 2010,yielding about three million tonnes of pork, an increase of more than 3per cent over 2009.
Poultry output in 2010 also increasedby nearly 100,000 tonnes to 615,000 tonnes. In addition, output of beefand buffalo in 2010 was 6 and 6.5 percent higher than that in 2009.
"Demand for meat of all kinds is expected to increase by 20 percentthis Tet, and the animal husbandry industry can meet the demand.Therefore, there will be no shortage of meat before, during and afterTet," he said.
MARD deputy minister Diep Kinh Tan askedpig traders to reduce unofficial exports to China to ensure supplyin the local market for the nation's largest holiday, saying that fromnow until Tet, which falls early February, pig traders should onlyexport a total of 10,000 tonnes of live pigs.
The ministrywould increase checks on import and export of meat products in thecoming time, with a focus on ensuring sufficient local supply, hesaid./.
