Faced with challenges from COVID-19 and other epidemics, animal husbandry enterprises have both strengthened pandemic prevention measures and joined hands with the Government for its mass vaccination campaign, looking forward to the target of achieving herd immunity.
Japfa Vietnam executives hand over US$1 million to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to join hands with the Government in its COVID-19 fight
According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, animal husbandry accounts for 24.3 per cent of the agricultural sector, and it is regarded as an important component.
In recent years it has attained average annual growth rate of 5-6 per cent and targets 5.5-6 per cent growth in 2021 despite the impact of COVID and the risk of an outbreak of African swine fever.
The development of pig farming spurs the growth of the animal feed industry with its average growth of 5-6 per cent a year.
But the industry is also facing difficulties due to the impact of COVID on supply chains, especially logistics, transportation and consumption.
Besides, animal feed production businesses have to spend more on epidemic prevention measures to ensure the safety of their staff and operations.
As one of the largest foreign investors in Vietnam’s animal husbandry sector, Japfa Comfeed Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Japfa Vietnam) now has six feed production plants, over 300 livestock and poultry farms and a network of some 40 stores selling meat and processed foods under the Japfa Best brand.
Ensuring the safety of more than 5,500 staff members so that they maintain the operations of its factories, farms and stores is a considerable challenge for the company.
Japfa Vietnam employees ensure safety, prevent COVID-19 and maintain operations of the company’s plants, farms and stores
According to a Japfa spokesperson, since the outbreak began the company has strictly complied with all prevention measures stipulated by the Ministry of Health at its factories, farms and offices to protect the health of workers and ensure its production and business remain on track.
The company regularly disinfects workplaces and requests all employees to wear face masks, wash their hands and check their temperature before entering the workplace. Furthermore, it emphasises holding meetings online and maintaining social distance and disinfects all vehicles used for transport from its production areas.
It has actively carried out community support programmes for farmers and localities affected severely by the pandemic.
They include donations of over four tonnes of chicken and pork and some 90,000 eggs to the Cu Chi Field Hospital in HCM City and to provinces hit badly by the pandemic such as Binh Thuan, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc, and Thai Nguyen.
Recently, in response to the appeal by the Government to support the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund, Japfa Vietnam donated over US$1 million (VND23 billion) to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.
Mr. Arif Widjaja, general director of Japfa Comfeed Vietnam, said: “We deeply appreciate the Government’s initiative for establishing the Covid-19 Vaccine Fund and its strategy for containing the pandemic. With our commitment to sustainable business, we are willing to go hand in hand with Vietnam at this difficult time to overcome the pandemic and sustain the economy.”