Meat production is Champassak province is set to increase this year with no need to import livestock.
Livestock numbers are higher this year so there is no need to import more, said the provincial Agriculture and Forestry Department's Livestock and Fisheries head, Mr Khambay Singsouvong.
Livestock, especially cattle, were imported from Thailand in 2008 because provincial authorities wanted to ensure an adequate supply of meat for the National Games, which were held in the province in December that year.
Last year the provincial authorities encouraged farmers to raise enough livestock to produce 16,538 tonnes of meat but this year they plan to supply only 15,580 tonnes, said Mr Khambay.
He said the department was also encouraging farmers to raise 1,250 buffaloes, 1,280 cattle and 1,490 pigs for sale to various provinces around the country.
Another target is to produce 20,000 buffaloes, 29,557 cattle and 127,870 pigs for sale in provincial markets, Mr Khambay said.
The department will focus on livestock rearing by rapid fattening techniques which require rich pasture for buffaloes and cattle.
Last year 125,000 buffaloes, 128,530 cattle and 148,785 pigs were raised in the province, a 2.5 percent increase from 2008.
This year the department planned to encourage farmers to raise 127,556 buffaloes, 131,746 cattle and 156,123 pigs. There are now 17 cattle farms and 79 pig farms in the province.
Aside from large farms, Mr Khambay said the department was also encouraging small scale farmers to rear livestock as a source of income for their families.
In order to guarantee sufficient meat production to meet demand in the province and sell to other provinces, he said the department was also focusing on vaccinating animals to reduce the death rate.
Last year the department, in close cooperation with local authorities, vaccinated more than 43,900 buffaloes, 37,350 cattle, 38,500 pigs and some poultry in 10 districts, about 26 percent more than in 2008.
This year the province also plans to increase fish production from 11,340 to 14,280 tonnes and to increase egg production from about 290 to more than 600 tonnes.
Last year the province produced about 30,600 tonnes of meat, fish and eggs - 46.02 kg per capita for the year – and this year the total will reach 33,440 tonnes, which is 47.84kg per capita, Mr Khambay said.
Champassak has been producing enough meat and fish to meet local demand for a long time, but the province stopped exports of these foods in 2005 as the local population expanded.
