Effectiveness of resolution on livestock development in Quy Hop

(Baonghean) - Livestock development in a concentrated and sustainable direction; the quality of buffalo and cow herds has been improved and enhanced; difficulties in capital and breeding animals have gradually been resolved, these are the initial results of Quy Hop district after 1 year of implementing Resolution 12 of the District Party Committee on the policy of developing large-scale livestock farming.

Grasping the advantages of natural conditions suitable for developing large-scale livestock farming, and using the surplus local labor resources, the Executive Committee of Quy Hop District Party Committee issued Resolution No. 12-NQ/HU dated May 27, 2016 on "Developing buffalo and cow herds in the district by 2020: Supporting the development of grass planting and effective buffalo and cow farming models", aiming to make livestock farming a "spearhead" for sustainable agricultural development.

Raising cows in Chau Cuong commune (Quy Hop). Photo: My Nga

To specify the content of implementing Resolution No. 12-NQ/HU, the District People's Committee has developed and issued the Project "Developing buffalo and cow herds in the district by 2020: Supporting the development of grass planting and effective buffalo and cow breeding models".

At the same time, the organization disseminated and thoroughly grasped the contents and objectives of the Resolution and Project to departments, offices, units and People's Committees of communes and towns through meetings and conferences. Immediately after implementation, Resolution 12 received high consensus and support from both the government and people in the district. From there, good models and practices emerged, realizing the Party's Resolution into life.

Chau Cuong commune was chosen as a pilot commune for the model of "converting some areas of mixed gardens and ineffective land to grass growing for raising cows in barns". Receiving the Resolution, the commune has made an action plan, disseminated the Resolution to cadres and party members, and propagated and mobilized people to raise awareness and sense of action in developing cattle and buffalo breeding, considering this one of the important tasks of the commune.

At the same time, assign groups and organizations to be in charge of each segment. Specifically, the Youth Union is responsible for planting grass with the people, the Women's Union builds cages, the Farmers' Association makes straw, and the Department of Agriculture provides grass seeds.

Mr. Le Van Ca in Ha Dong hamlet, Chau Cuong commune happily shared that in 2016, his family was able to borrow 30 million VND through the loan support program of the Youth Union in coordination with the Social Policy Bank. With his family's capital, he bought 4 cows and kept them in a barn. Taking advantage of the garden area of ​​over 1,200m², he converted ineffective crops to grow elephant grass as a source of food for cows. Growing elephant grass is very easy, does not require much care. After only 3 months, the first harvest can be harvested. After that, another harvest can be harvested every 20-40 days. It is estimated that in 1 year, harvesting 6-8 times reaches about 250 tons/ha.

Mr. Sam Ngoc Luong's household (Ha Dong hamlet) has 2.5 hectares of elephant grass. He said that with such a large yield of fresh grass, people have been taught the technique of fermenting food, in order to preserve the grass for a long time, as well as increase the nutritional content of cattle feed. The grass is put into a chopper, mixed with salt, rice bran, and molasses, then steamed and sealed to prevent air from spoiling it. After about a week, the cattle can eat it and it can be stored for 6 months.

He shared that each day, an adult cow can use 30-50kg of fresh grass, while with silage, only 5kg is needed and the animal is still provided with adequate nutrition.

Mr. Luu Xuan Diem - Secretary of Chau Cuong Commune Party Committee said that raising cows in barns and growing grass as the main source of food has helped people easily control the number of herds and the habits of cattle, cows not only grow well but also avoid diseases. With high economic efficiency, the model of raising cows in barns has gradually changed the free-range farming habits of the mountainous people, and at the same time become the main source of income for the people.

Growing elephant grass not only creates a local food source for livestock, but also provides a more nutritious food than natural grass. Photo: My Nga

Not only in Chau Cuong commune, the movement of growing grass to raise buffaloes and cows in barns has been replicated in different communes and villages across the district. For example, in Chau Quang commune, the target by 2020 is to have a total herd of buffaloes and cows estimated at 3,629, but at present it has reached 2,675, of which 1,240 are cows.

According to the report, after more than 1 year of implementing Resolution 12, the district has done a good job of guiding grass planting, managing selected buffaloes and cows, and coordinating with banks to lend capital to farmers. 22 training courses were organized to transfer science and technology on grass planting, raising and preventing diseases of buffaloes and cows for 1,520 farming households. Up to now, 257 cows have been supported, more than 867 cows have been bred; 100.74 hectares of new elephant grass have been planted.

In addition to the support of all levels and sectors, people also proactively help each other develop large-scale livestock farming by raising "cheap" buffalo and cows: Households with better economic conditions but lacking human resources will invest in buying breeding animals for poor families to raise. Economic benefits are agreed upon by households themselves.

Mr. Lo Van An's family in Pan village, Chau Ly commune escaped poverty thanks to this method. He confided that his family has 6 members, but the rice field area is small, so they are always in a situation of "eating today and worrying about tomorrow's meal". When he learned about the model of adopting "giế" buffaloes and cows, he proactively asked to raise "giế" buffaloes and cows with families with better economic conditions in the village and commune. With the form of a newborn herd during the raising process, it will be divided in half, and with the breeding animals, he took advantage of the grasslands to set up a small farm.

Up to now, he has a herd of cattle worth hundreds of millions of dong. Mr. Nguyen Van Manh - Head of Pan village said: Raising "giè" buffalo and cows is a model of "people contributing labor, people contributing money" that brings high efficiency, helping many families have stable income, escape poverty sustainably. At the same time, it contributes to increasing the number of cattle in the whole commune".

According to statistics, compared to the target set by Resolution 12, by 2020 the total herd of buffaloes and cows in the district would reach 38,500, but now it has reached 38,608, exceeding 0.3%. Of which, the total herd of cows reached 17,842, exceeding the target by 15.1%. The production value of buffalo and cow farming has gradually increased, accounting for a significant proportion of the production value of the district's livestock industry. Buffalo and cow farming has not only increased in the number of households but also in the number of buffaloes and cows in each household, contributing to increasing income and helping people improve their lives.

Comrade Ho Le Ngoc - Secretary of Quy Hop District Party Committee said: "Quy Hop District identifies the development of buffalo and cow herds as one of the key points for agricultural development to sustainably eliminate poverty. Accordingly, the district has actively directed communes to focus on implementing Resolution 12. After more than 1 year of implementation, people's awareness of old farming practices has gradually changed, investing in concentrated buffalo and cow farming, "reducing quantity, increasing quality". The Resolution has affirmed initial results in economic value, increasing income for many households, creating spillover from replicating effective models".

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