The state-owned Song Hau Farm will ship straw to Japan under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked with the Japan Beef Import-Export Association (J-BIX) on November 18. — Photo nongnghiep.vn

HA NOI (Bizhub) — Viet Nam will export straw to Japan for the first time, where it will be used to process cattle feed.

The state-owned Song Hau Farm in the southern Can Tho City will ship straw to Japan under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked with the Japan Beef Import-Export Association (J-BIX) on November 18.

Meanwhile, the J-BIX pledged to provide financial aid through the Japanese government's official development assistance (ODA) for the development of cattle breeding at Song Hau Farm.

Director of Song Hau Farm Nguyen Thanh Phu said the MoU was a massive opportunity for the farm and other provinces in the Mekong Delta to export straw to Japan.

"Most of the straw in the region is usually burned or buried as it is considered agricultural residue, thus polluting the environment and farmland," Phu said.

He said straw exports would help increase farmers' income and clean the soil for the next crop.

Straw is usually burned or buried as it is considered agricultural residue. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

The farm expects to ship the first batches of straw to Japan shortly after the 2015-2016 winter-spring crop is harvested.

According to Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon (Saigon Economic Times), J-BIX Vice-Chairman Yutaka Aoyama said Japan would support the Song Hau Farm with ODA capital, machinery and experts to ensure the production of quality straw of export.

Aoyama said Japan needed about 220,000 tonnes of straw to make cattle feed every year. The straw was previously sourced from China.

Japan chose Viet Nam as a straw supplier after Chinese straw failed to keep up with its requirements, he said. — VNS