It will be quite difficult, however, to re-populate the remaining 20 percent in the third and fourth quarters of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted.

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Pig droves now represent 80 percent of the number just prior to the outbreak of African swine fever. (Photo for illustration)

Speeding up breeding while ensuring safety and sustainability is a headache for the sector, he added.

The minister suggested focusing on removing difficulties facing farming households, medium-sized farms, and cooperatives, as these groups contribute up to 65 percent of the total droves and are the most vulnerable to disease.

Agricultural enterprises should strengthen coordination with farmers and cooperatives to ensure effective re-population by strictly obeying biological safety procedures, he recommended.

He also asked relevant departments and banks to jointly support pig breeders to repopulate droves.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam had 24.89 million pigs as at April, down nearly 20 percent compared to the 31 million at the end of 2018.

The ministry’s Department of Animal Health reported that 16 cities and provinces nationwide are still coping with African swine fever.

Source: VNA