According to Viet Nam Poultry Breeders’ Association President and General Secretary Tran Cong Xuan, there are 2,837 poultry farms across the country that produce around 400,000 tonnes of fowl meat and 4-5 billion eggs a year.

Xuan said that while the poultry sector is only just behind the pork industry in meat output, 70 percent of farms are run by households where the application of new technologies and veterinary standards is not given adequate attention.

To help remedy such limitations to sustainable development of the industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Husbandry Department suggested that poultry breeding and concentrated breeding areas be zoned off.

The Ministry also recommended that farm-applied breeding methods be strictly adopted.

Participating in the workshop, US Poultry & Egg Association Technical Director Mark Lobstein said his association will continue aiding the organisation of training courses for poultry breeders and exporters in Viet Nam .

He said the association will also provide Vietnamese breeders in rural and remote areas with test-kits to help them quickly identify any viruses killing their fowls in order to take prompt measures to contain it.