vietnam australie 20 mai 02

More profits for beef farmerswith Australian aid
(SGT- 16/5/2002)- Better understanding ofmarkets and the effective adoption of improved animal husbandry techniques will bring inmore profits for local beef farmers, Vietnamese and Australian scientists said on Mondayat a workshop in Hanoi.

The three-day workshop isbeing held at the conclusion of a three-year project to develop Vietnam's beef industry,according to a press release from the Australian Center for International AgriculturalResearch (ACIAR).

The Australian government, through ACIAR, provided morethan VND8 billion (around US$537,000) for Vietnamese and Australian scientists to researchbreeding, nutrition, health and marketing in many provinces in Vietnam.

The research found that the central coast provinces hadthe most suitable farming systems for beef cattle. Beef production will contribute topoverty reduction and food security in these provinces.

Beef currently ranks third in consumption levels for meatproducts in Vietnam, behind pork and poultry. The government of Vietnam is concerned aboutimproving productivity and profitability in livestock production to meet the increasingneed for protein in the coming years and to bring in more profits for beef farmers.