Developing clean food from clean livestock farming.

(Baonghean) - Amidst the widespread availability of food containing harmful chemicals, consumers from cities to rural areas are seeking various ways to "hunt" for clean food.

Demand for clean meat is increasing sharply.

Every time Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lam's family in Van Tien Hamlet, Hung Dung Ward (Vinh City) prepares to slaughter a pig, neighbors whisper to each other about going over to buy some. Ms. Vu Thi Giang, a teacher in Do Luong, whose house is next to Mrs. Lam's, often asks her neighbors to get some for her before she goes to teach. Ms. Giang said, "I'm very worried about buying meat that's been sold illegally, fed with banned substances and uncontrolled additives. Therefore, whenever there's a pig slaughter in my hometown, I always buy a lot to store in the refrigerator for later use."

Not only Ms. Giang, but many others, upon hearing the news about pork raised on wastewater (using leftover food, without chemical growth hormones), made the effort to wake up early and wait in line to buy it. Many consumers, when asked, said that the price of clean pork is usually higher because it doesn't use lean meat enhancers and has a higher fat content, but this product helps them avoid worries about food safety and hygiene. Therefore, even though Mrs. Lam's family slaughters pigs a few times a year, they never have unsold stock.

According to a survey by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Vietnamese people prefer pork. A typical Vietnamese diet consists of 73.3% pork, 17.5% poultry, and 9.2% red meat. (Photo: QL)

Pork is a staple ingredient in every family meal, so information about pigs raised with growth hormones, beef injected with water to increase weight, or contaminated, spoiled meat disguised with chemicals and bleach... has led housewives to seek out clean food in various ways. Many have returned to their hometowns to order, or even raise chickens and pigs there to create a supply for their daily meals. And because of the worry about contaminated food, it's now not difficult to find stalls selling local produce in the streets. Thanks to a relative's guidance, Mr. and Mrs. Thanh from Dong Van (Thanh Chuong) moved to Vinh after their agricultural off-season to start a business. Every day, they source clean produce, wake up at 2 am to prepare pork, chicken, and beef, and at 5 am transport the goods to sell on Hermann Gmeiner Street (Vinh City). Despite the hard work, their goods sell well every day.

Seeing the growing demand for clean, locally sourced food among city dwellers, and the limited availability of supplies from acquaintances, he enlisted the help of family members specializing in collecting goods within and outside the commune to find sources. To facilitate sales, he recently even bought a car to transport his goods; from a state of poverty, his family has built a spacious three-story house in his hometown. Mr. Thanh said that his regular customers are increasing, and all his goods sell out quickly, so he has to go to remote areas to find suppliers. Here, it's not uncommon for people to raise their own chickens and pigs, ensuring cleanliness because they don't use growth hormones in their feed.

Livestock farming according to VietGAHP standards is essential.

Currently, in addition to clean meat from small-scale farms, farm-based livestock production following VietGAHP standards is also being implemented. Mr. Luu Cong Hoa, Head of the Livestock Department of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: "For a long time, consumers have been hesitant about farm-based livestock products, unaware that farm-based livestock farming using industrial feed is a scientific and technological advancement. The animals are fed industrial feed with all the necessary components, ensuring proper nutrition. This feed is researched to suit each animal and type, but it is currently more expensive."

Livestock products registered under good farming practices, whether farm-based or household-based, can all be considered clean products. Encouragingly, with recent financial and technical support from the livestock industry competitiveness project, many households have begun cooperating with businesses and cooperatives, applying new processes to ensure the supply of clean meat products to the market.

Mr. Thanh's butcher shop (Dong Van, Thanh Chuong) on ​​SOS Road, Vinh City.

The integrated livestock farm of Mr. Tran Van Nam's family in Hamlet 2A, Nam Thanh Commune (Nam Dan District) is well-known. With over 150 pigs, 10 cows, and nearly 2,000 chickens, Mr. Nam participated in the VietGAHP livestock program from the very beginning of the project in Nam Thanh.

Thanks to strict adherence to rigorous farming procedures, his family's products have built a strong reputation among consumers in recent years. Traders from various districts and Vinh City come directly to the farm to purchase the livestock, eliminating the need for transportation. Furthermore, sourcing feed directly from factories within the province ensures that the family's livestock products are not only clean but also reduces costs, resulting in higher profits.

“VietGAHP-certified products are gradually gaining people's trust; however, the number is still small, and the dissemination of information is not yet effective, so there is still confusion with traditionally raised pigs that are not raised according to proper procedures and use many chemicals. Going forward, if businesses with large-scale, chain-based farming models participate, these difficulties can be overcome,” Mr. Nam shared.

According to our research, recently housewives have been increasingly opting to buy meat, vegetables, and fruits from supermarkets and specialized stores that produce clean food grown according to VietGAHP standards with clear origins. Ms. Dang Thi Tam, Director of Phu Dien APG Joint Stock Company, stated: "Currently, consumers are paying more attention to quality standards and the origin of food. Therefore, chicken, pork, vegetables, and fruits grown under certified good production practices like VietGAHP are trusted by consumers as clean and safe for their health."

Livestock farming according to VietGAHP standards not only enhances the competitiveness of farmers through improved productivity, quality, and food safety, but also minimizes environmental pollution in the livestock product chain, promoting clean farming from farm to table. Clean farming is not only a market requirement but also a vital factor for the survival of Vietnam's livestock industry in the face of pressure from imported meat from countries with developed livestock industries and good food safety management processes, as Vietnam integrates more deeply into global economic organizations.

Thu Huyen