Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Vietnam mulls allowing cattle imports from Cambodia

Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Thanh Nien News (Hanoi)

Vietnam’s agricultural authorities are considering a proposal by the southern Dong Thap Province to officially import cattle from Cambodia to tackle problematic diseases stemming from unabated cattle trafficking.

In the proposal, the provincial Animal Health Department explained that rampant cattle trafficking through border areas despite the ban on cattle imports from Cambodia exacerbates risks of diseases like foot-and-mouth spreading.

Duong Nghia Quoc, deputy head of the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department, said approving cattle imports would help to control smuggling and potential epidemics.

Currently, local cattle supplies fall short of consumption demands—a situation which reinforces the smuggling industry.

Statistics showed the province harbors some 30,000 head of cattle, a figure inadequate to meet local consumption needs let alone feeding massive markets in Ho Chi Minh City and other neighboring provinces.

Human resource shortage additionally hinders authorities’ control due to the vast border with Cambodia, said Head of the provincial Animal Health Department Vo Be Hien.

At many points, the two nations are divided merely by a canal or paddy field, creating favorable conditions for traffickers.

Kien Giang Province’s Animal Health Department concurs, expressing that legalizing imports would aid detection of ill animals for timely quarantine.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Ba Bong, after undergoing the ministry’s consideration, the proposal will be submitted to the respective governments.

Authorities of the two countries then would proceed to negotiate an agreement.

The timeline to reach such an understanding is yet unknown.

Foot-and-mouth, one of the most prevalent diseases for cattle, is highly contagious and affects animals with divided hooves.

Upon infection, the beasts develop ulcers in the mouth and hoof areas.

The latest epidemic broke out in January 2006 and was only contained in September last year.

It took heavy tolls on cattle breeders across Vietnam with thousands of animals forcibly slaughtered.

Source: SGGP

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rice export to Yuon, now cattles. Khmer has nothing to eat. We take good quality to them while we eat low quality , i.e rice. Why? Why so?
Our govt does not find market for them, what a sad!
c.

Anonymous said...

hello!! when you export commodities you don't export all of it, you keep some and export some; otherwise, you will have no more. please study international business or something because they will educate you a lot on how to do import/export businesses. this goes with everything else as well, always keep some to reproduce and never give out the original. an idea!