Over 940 poultry, hog farms ensure meat sufficiency in Yangon Region

November 25

 

YANGON, a commercial hub of Myanmar, is home to about eight million people. In a bid to meet the growing demand of the urban population, more than 940 livestock farms are raising 7.5 million heads of pigs and chickens in Yangon Region.

 

In addition to commercial farming, those engaged in manageable skill are also helping supply the market, with over 6,600 pigs from 202 farms, 300,000 layers from 284 layer farms and 4.5 million broilers from 656 poultry farms. Over 940 livestock farms having 7.5 million heads of pigs and chickens are providing the domestic meat market every three or four months.

 

Myanmar livestock sector plays a pivotal role in nutrition efficiency and food security of the people. There are discrepancies between the urban population and meat consumption. This being so, the State is making concerted efforts to enhance the livestock sector to meet the growing appetite for meat. Also, the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation is continuously providing health care assistance and farming technology to the industry. The livestock industry must strictly take preventive measures for biosecurity measures to control the viral disease of animals in winter, such as African Swine Flu and Bird Flu, keeping in line with the health protocols issued by the LBVD. Those preventive measures will mitigate the harm to the well-being of the breeders and the economic benefits.

 

Yangon Region has self-sufficiency in meat production, accounting for 70 per cent of the overall meat production in the country.

 

“It is usual that African swine flu and other bird flu outbreaks occur in winter. Although they are highly contagious viral diseases of pigs and birds, they cannot be transmitted to humans through contact with infected pigs or birds. It however resulted in losses for the businesses. Therefore, the awareness campaigns of the diseases are being raised through staterun newspapers or broadcasting media. So far, there is no outbreak found in the country yet. The LBVD is coordinating with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and other member countries. The department is calling for the breeders to bolster the hog farming sector,” said Dr Toe Min Tun, head of the Yangon Region LBVD.

 

The department is taking preventative measures for the cross-border viral disease of livestock including foot and mouth disease, swine flu and bird flu. The slaughterhouses also do not accept that livestock which does not bear the certificate of the department. A certificate that guarantees that the livestock is free from diseases is required as well before they are delivered from place to place. — Nyein Thu-MNA/GNLM