DaNa Facility and De Henus, international animal feed business have made a joint investment of over $ 3.2 million in a new project to increase the productivity of pig farmers across Myanmar

The DaNa Facility, a UK Government Department for International Development (DFID) funded programme, and De Heus Myanmar, a leading international animal feed business, have announced a joint investment of over $3.2 million in an innovative new project focused on increasing the incomes and productivity of pig farmers across Myanmar. The investment will be the largest single business investment in Kayah State.

The De Heus project will work to address significant issues facing domestic pork production in Myanmar, including problems related to the quality of feed, breeding stock, veterinary services, bio-security issues and the genetics of domestic pigs, which negatively affect pig producers and consumers across the country.

The project will be investing across the swine production value chain in Myanmar, setting up the country’s first pig stud farm near Loikaw, Kayah State, and import 250 sows from overseas. De Heus will also establish demonstration farms in Kachin, Chin, Naypyitaw, Shan, Yangon, Bago, Mandalay, Pyay, Pathein, as well as Kayah to provide training for around 10,000 farmers to improve their pig-rearing and management practices.

Alongside this work De Heus will back further policy changes, collaborating with Kayah State Government and the Union-level Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department to improve the business environment for pig farmers.

The Head of DFID, Dr Gail Marzetti, said “DFID is excited to be launching this project as we see that it has significant potential to transform the production and quality of pigs in Myanmar, helping the market to become more efficient and inclusive. By working to improve the quality of pigs produced in Myanmar, while also increasing the skills of small-holders in pig-rearing and business, we want to help small holder farmers and low-income producers across the country to increase their income and the prosperity of their families and communities.”

Harry Schimmel, of De Heus Myanmar said: “Through this project, we are seeking to help Myanmar smallholder pig farmers, by providing access to high quality genetics, animal husbandry techniques, farm management support and links to new markets. This is a huge opportunity for Myanmar pig farmers and the entire pig production market to improve the quality of their pigs but also the income of those working in the sector.

“Without the grant and support from UKAID through the Dana facility, this would not have happened and so we are sincerely thankful for their support and we are grateful to be given the opportunity to support development in the Myanmar Pig sector.”

The De Heus project will invest in Myanmar to address systemic issues in domestic pork production that relies on small-holders (for 90% of production), is inefficient by international standards and is currently unable to keep up with increasing demand. Constraints on the market include a lack of quality feed, weak breeding stock, poor veterinary services, bio-security problems, poor management and poor genetics of local pigs. As a consequence, small-holder pork producers are missing out on economic opportunities, meanwhile consumers are paying high prices for a lower quality product compared to other markets in the region.

They will also help farmers engage and sell directly to ‘professional’ buyers, avoiding ‘informal’ middle-men and will conduct a value chain analysis with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to identify areas to improve efficiency, including the feasibility of supporting abattoirs.

The project will also advocate for further policy changes to improve the business environment. De Heus is working closely with Kayah State Government and the Union-level Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department.

(Myanmar Business Today: https://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/dfid-announces-32-million-joint-investment-improve-pig-farming-across-myanmar )

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