Market price instability is one of the biggest challenges with the animal husbandry industry in Vietnam.
Whether raising animals as a household or as part of a larger farming model, most animal raising households understand that price fluctuations are an uncontrollable risk. However, this is the first time pig prices have decreased so deeply and have remained depressed for nearly a year. The price of pigs went down 18,000 – 21,000 VND per kilogram, meaning a loss from 1 million – 1.5 million VND per pig (US$44 – $66).
Pig raising households’ dilemma is complicated by the fact that animal feed providers now require payment up front where previously households paid for feed after the pigs were sold.
Many pig raisers are forced to sell at prices lower than cost or are unable to sell their pigs at any price.
This situation, which has been going on since last year, has caused many households to empty their pig pens even selling their breeding pigs. Some households wanted to give their piglets away for free, but nobody wanted to raise them, so they released them in the forest to fend for themselves.
We are seeing the effects of this terrible situation in that some families are now struggling to repay their biogas loans, where previously there has been a 100% repayment rate. Also, for the first time ever the demand for biogas loans is declining. Animal raising has been a good way to increase income and come out of poverty What concerns us most is that it may cause a return to poverty for some families. We are working with local leaders and individual families on ways forward.
The pens are empty during the last few months – Home of Mr.Xoa, Ba Vi
A sick pig was left without treatment, because the value of that pig is even lower than the cost for treatment.