Ha Giang ensures sufficient pork supply for Lunar New Year

BHG - Pig farmers in Ha Giang Province are working to rebuild their herds after containing African swine fever (ASF) to ensure the supply of pork for the 2025 Lunar New Year (Tet), which is a little more than two months away.

Truong Quang Tien, a farmer in Na Loa Village, Tung Ba Commune, Vi Xuyen District, has added over 50 pigs to his family’s farm. He said the demand for food will increase during Tet, but farmers should pay attention to preventing diseases for their pigs, especially during the year-end months — when the weather is cold and there is a greater risk of pigs contracting diseases. He has taken various measures such as disinfecting and cleaning pens, and selecting piglets of clear origins.

Residents of Tung Ba Commune (Vi Xuyen District) tend to their pig herds in preparation for the 2025 Lunar New Year.

Since the start of the year, ASF has spread to 24 communes in six districts and Ha Giang City, resulting in the culling of 2,650 pigs with a total weight of 106 tonnes. However, thanks to strong efforts, ASF has now been contained and the province has been declared to be free of the disease.

Farmers are actively rebuilding their herds and taking biosecure livestock practices, helping to raise the total number of pigs in the province to nearly 589,000, including over 67,500 restocked pigs. The pork output in the first ten months of 2024 reached 56,000 tonnes, up 8% over the same period last year.

Although the livestock situation has stabilised, the risk of ASF reoccurring has remained high, especially during the final months of the year when erratic weather creates favourable conditions for outbreaks. Currently, there are 142 communes across 26 provinces and cities nationwide where ASF outbreaks have been contained for less than 21 days.

The authorities are continuing to increase public awareness efforts, advising residents to purchase piglets with clear origins, maintain pen hygiene, adopt biosecure farming practices, and promptly report any outbreaks to prevent widespread transmission.

The provincial People’s Committee has directed the implementation of comprehensive measures to control diseases and ensure a stable food supply for the 2025 Lunar New Year.

AN GIANG