Without water, the 5 billion VND slaughterhouse in the border district of Ky Son had to stop operating.

The centralized slaughterhouse of Ky Son district has stopped operating since July. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The centralized slaughterhouse of Ky Son border district was put into operation in early 2019, serving the slaughter of livestock in Muong Xen town, Ta Ca commune, Huu Kiem commune and part of Huu Lap commune. The total state capital invested in building this slaughterhouse is 5 billion VND. Nearly 20 pigs and cows are slaughtered every day.

However, during operation, this slaughterhouse encountered many difficulties, due to the small amount of pigs and cattle slaughtered daily, so the revenue was not enough to cover expenses, especially the water supply was not guaranteed.

Mr. Luong Van Sao, a worker at the Ky Son concentrated slaughterhouse, said that due to damaged water pipes, there was no water to serve the slaughtering work, so the slaughterhouse had to stop operating. Photo: Quang An

Records on the morning of August 26 showed that the concentrated slaughterhouse in Ky Son district was not operating, only the husband and wife of the slaughterhouse attendant, Mr. Luong Van Sao, were looking after it. Mr. Sao said that the slaughterhouse had stopped operating since July 14, due to damaged water pipes, there was no water for slaughtering, and now people were slaughtering cattle at home.

Empty pig pens. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Le Anh Tuan - Deputy Director of Ky Son Agricultural Service Center said: The water supply system for the district's concentrated slaughterhouse is taken from Huoi Giang stream, about 3 km away. The pipeline is long, and due to heavy rain, floods, and drought, many sections are damaged and blocked, so water cannot reach the slaughterhouse. The district has had a solution of using pumps to pump water from the river to the reservoir, but it is still not enough. Currently, the unit is looking for ways to fix the damaged water pipeline sections to continue supplying water to this slaughterhouse.

"Concentrated livestock slaughter is necessary for the border district of Ky Son to limit livestock diseases and avoid environmental pollution in residential areas. Therefore, in order for this centralized livestock slaughterhouse to operate stably, the district People's Committee has a policy of supporting 7 million VND/month, but it is still difficult to operate. In the long term, the district will find a solution to provide water to the slaughterhouse in a safer way," added Mr. Le Anh Tuan.