(HBO) - "Camel bird" is another name for an ostrich type that Phan Sy Hai and his wife Le Hai Yen raised in their farm at My village, Yen Mong commune, Hoa Binh city. Though they both have their own job, the couple took to raising this ostrich species in the hope of improving their income.
The ostrich farm of
Le Hai Yen and her husband in My village, Yen Mong commune, Hoa Binh city
generates a stable income of 100 – 150 million VND per year
In 2012, Yen’s
family bought six ostriches weighing 5-7kg each at 2 million VND each. They
then had to give up keeping the animals as they did not have enough land while
their children were young at the time. Three years later, the couple spent over
30 million VND to lease a 1,000 sq.m land plot and raised 30 ostriches. Seeing
that the birds grew well, required little care while adapting well to weather
conditions and resisting to diseases, Yen and her husband gradually increased
the flock to 60-100 heads, or even
200 in peak time. Currently, the farm has 120 birds
for meat and six for egg laying.
Yen said: "My family
raises ostriches mainly for meat and egg for sale. Female ostrich can lay eggs
when they reach 18-20 months old, but due to the lack of incubators and technique,
we now cannot hatch eggs to sell young birds. Therefore, we mainly raise the
bird for meat.” Yen now sells ostrich meat to local restaurants and at Nghia
Phuong and Tan Thanh markets. The prices of ostrich meat range from 100,000 –
250,000 VND per kg, 80-85,000 VND per kg for live bird and 250,000 – 280,000
VND per kg of ostrich meat pie. Each week, she sells two ostriches on Saturday
and Sunday or more when consumers place order. During peak time such as New
Year holiday or festivals, her farm sells four ostriches per day. With
affordable prices and fresh quality, the meat is becoming popular.
Yen stressed that
ostrich meat is organic, adding: "We feed the birds grass, water morning glory
and water-fern. During the raising process, the feed must be mixed in correct
ratio. When the birds are young, they should be fed with chicken feed, and when
they are bigger, we use grass and maize powder. While cleaning the farm, all
sharp, pointed and hard items must be removed to prevent the birds from eating them.
I buy young birds during January – June, around 100 heads each time”.
Yen and her husband
learnt how to raise ostriches from sellers or on the Internet. At the outset,
they met a lot of difficulties. Yen said: "Apart from limited capital, a lack
of experience worried us most. During transportation, many birds died along the
way. Little ones died due to weak resistance to diseases while bigger ones died
trampling upon each other. One time, I bought 12 ostriches but half of them
died on the way”. Learning from such experience, she transported the young
birds in small quantity at night in cool weather. The farm now earns her family a stable income
of 100 – 150 million VND a year, contributing to improving their livelihood./.
The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on November 20 coordinated with Hai Dang Group Hoa Binh Seafood Company Limited to release 1.5 tonnes of fries into Hoa Binh Lake to regenerate aquatic resources, with a total value of 266 million VND (10,460 USD).
On the afternoon of November 16, Nguyen Phi Long, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, held a reception for a delegation from the Indian Embassy led by Ambassador Sandeep Arya. The delegation included the chairperson of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, embassy personnel, and Indian businesses operating in Vietnam. Accompanying Long at the meeting were leaders of the provincial People's Committee and representatives from various departments and sectors.
Hoa Binh province hosted the "Meet India 2024" conference on November 16, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral economic ties between Vietnam and India.
In recent times, with its core role in building and fostering great national unity, Cao Phong district's Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee has actively carried out its responsibilities and front work, and closely collaborated with member organisations to encourage locals to implement the Party’s guidelines, and the State’s policies and laws. At the same time, it has worked to promote the dynamism, creativity, and contributions of officials, Party members, and local people to help the district develop further.
From a type of bulb used as a seasoning for daily meals, thanks to the efforts of local authorities and farmers, shallots have become a commercial crop in Yen Thuy district, contributing to promoting the transformation of crop structure in agricultural production, bringing higher incomes to locals.
