Bac Giang, Viet Nam. Started since 2016 with the continuing support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the project “Evidence-Based Risk Management along the Livestock Production and Market Chain” has finally been successfully completed with inspiring and promising results. A final workshop was organized in Bac Giang province to advocate for further expansion and application of the project achievements by the sharing of success stories, challenges and lessons learnt from the farmers of model farms and hatcheries. The workshop was joined by Mr. Nguyen Duc Trong, Director of the Department of Livestock Production (DLP), Mr. Michael O’leary, Representative of USAID, Ms. Slava Zeman, Counsellor (Agriculture) of Australian Embassy Viet Nam, representatives from the Bac Giang Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health (Sub-DLP&AH), farmers who have been part of the project and FAO representatives.

Bac Giang is one of the provinces with the highest poultry density in the North of Vietnam. Under this project, FAO has been clmảosely working with the DLP and the Bac Giang Sub-DLP&AH to improve farmers’ and local authorities’ capacity on good husbandry and biosecurity practices and to support registration, auditing and certification system of hatcheries. At the end of the project, the participating farms and hatcheries have shown significant improvements in biosecurity practices and are certified to meet the official veterinary hygiene standards. Some of the hatchery and farm models have reported an increase of 5-10% in hatchability, an increase of 3-6% in egg productivity and a reduction of 40-50% in antimicrobial use. The model poultry hatcheries and farms with good management and biosecurity practices developed by this project were able to to demonstrate the benefits and share practical experiences to other farmers within their communities. Auditors trained during the project period are also available to support auditing and certification of improved farms in the future. The success of the project was acknowledged and highly appreciated by Mr. Nguyen Duc Trong, Director of DLP.

Following the closure of this project, FAO Viet Nam team will collaborate with the DLP to finalize the auditing checklist and submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for inclusion in the new animal husbandry legislation, which will take effect in 2020.