The Poultry Marketing System of South Vietnam

Excerpts from the Report: The program initiated in 1967 to increase commercial poultry production in Vietnam has been successful. However, the success of developing a viable poultry industry in Vietnam is dependent on a number of factors, including (1) an efficient poultry marketing system, and (2) the key factor, producing feed grains domestically in adequate quantities at reasonable prices. This report describes and analyzes existing marketing practices for poultry, including ducks; assesses the current marketing problems associated with each; and provides recommendations and suggestions for improvement. The information was gathered in a 6-week in-country tour (October-November 1971) sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development to observe marketing practices and interview government officials, producers, middlemen, and retailers in the poultry marketing system. In this report, the poultry enterprises are divided as follows: (1) chicken eggs, with major emphasis given to market eggs; (2) chicken for meat, including the traditional backyard flocks, commercial broiler flocks, and fowl; and (3) ducks for meat and duck eggs. The term commercial producers will refer to those farmers who specialize in raising improved breeds of laying hens and/or broilers with the primary purpose of production for the market. Noncommercial refers to farmers with local or cross breed chickens maintained as traditional backyard flocks.