BAF Faces Challenges in Revolutionary Pig Housing Project: What’s the Ministry of Agriculture’s Stance?

On June 4th, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien worked with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and related parties on BAF Vietnam JSC’s proposed pilot of a smart multi-story pig farming model.

At the meeting, Mr. Pham Kim Dang, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (MARD), stated that Vietnamese law does not currently prohibit multi-story livestock and poultry farming.

The high-tech pig farming model in multi-story buildings aligns with the government’s direction to promote research, application, and technology transfer, as stipulated in legal bases such as the Livestock Law and Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW.

At the meeting, BAF Vietnam’s Deputy General Director, Nguyen Van Minh, shared that the company has proposed to the ministry the construction of a smart six-story pig farm complex with two projects.

The first project is located in Tan Chau, Tay Ninh, with a capacity of 64,000 breeding sows and an annual production of 1.6 million commercial pigs. The second project is in Dong Phu, Binh Phuoc, with 20,000 breeding sows and an annual output of 500,000 commercial pigs.

Regarding project implementation, BAF’s Deputy General Director shared that specific regulations on farming density for this model are not yet available.

While there is the TCVN 14209:2024 standard for multi-story farming, the legal criteria regarding the environment, building permits, and environmental impact assessments remain unclear, causing challenges in completing the permit application process.

In response to BAF’s proposal, the Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary highlighted concerns related to the environment and disease control. With high farming density and a closed environment, there is a significant risk of disease spread if not properly managed, especially since a single infected individual can trigger an outbreak in the entire farming area.

Additionally, BAF should implement strict measures for slaughtering, processing, and product traceability, while also ensuring that waste treatment systems meet standards and that there is a clear plan for product consumption and export.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien instructed the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary to closely coordinate with BAF Vietnam to thoroughly review the legal basis and regulations for infrastructure development.

BAF must develop a risk response plan, product consumption and export plan, and complete all necessary procedures before implementing the projects.

The Deputy Minister affirmed that this is an important step towards industrializing pig farming, contributing to stabilizing supply and enhancing the value of domestic products.