HANOI, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Establishing disease-free zones was critical for Vietnam to increase the export of husbandry products, local media reported on Wednesday.
The animal farming industry of Vietnam has expanded strongly in recent years, but the export of husbandry products remained modest at around 400 million U.S. dollars a year, Vietnam News cited Nguyen Van Long, director of the Department of Animal Health.
Scattered farming remained a problem to the development of the animal husbandry industry, making it difficult to ensure veterinary hygiene, thus it was necessary to set up disease-free zones to ramp up exports of animal husbandry products, Long said.
Nguyen Ngoc Tien from the department said that certified disease-free zones would get many benefits, including priority in choosing breeds, animals, and animal products. In addition, animal products originating from certified establishments would get a quarantine certificate within just one day after registration, he said.
In a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said Vietnam is developing disease-free zones in the southeast region, which had a large scale of animal farming.
Tien also stressed that a combination of solutions was needed to promote the development of husbandry products towards increasing exports, including breeds, animal feed, veterinary medicine and processing.
There are about 2,230 establishments in 55 provinces and cities certified disease-free in Vietnam to date. ■
