Proceedings Buffalo Workshop December  2001

http://www.mekarn.org/procbuf/addre.htm

Opening address

Le Viet Ly

Chairman of the Organizing Committee

 

Distinguished International Guests

Distinguished participants

Ladies and gentlemen

 

It is my great honor on behalf of the organizing Committee to welcome all of you to the National Workshop on Swamp Buffalo Development. This Workshop is organized under the frame work of the “Livestock-based sustainable farming systems in the lower Mekong Basin” Project funded by SIDA SAREC.

Everyone in this area know clearly the important role of Swamp buffalo in small farming systems and also in farmers livelihood. In Vietnam, for a long history having buffalo is one of the big family event in rural areas, it can be compared with making housing or organizing wedding ceremony.

The development of the Swamp buffalo in Vietnam in recent years showed an ominous tendency. Although the buffalo population in almost stable or lightly decreased but a sharp decline has occurred in the two main deltas: the Mekong River Delta and the Red River Delta where the mechanization seems faster in comparison with other regions.

The aim of this Workshop is to explore the optimum use of Swamp buffalo for sustainable rural development and also food security and accordingly improvement of welfare of the poor in the countryside. It is time to apply some urgent measures in nutrition, breeding, reproduction, diseases, management and even policy to stop the declined trend of the buffalo population, if not it will be too late.

I am confident that this Workshop will give it attention not only to all participants but also to social opinion especially to the policy makers and lead to great effort to promote the buffalo development in our country.

We are very glad to receive here the distinguished colleagues and friends from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Scotland and FAO Hanoi. We appreciate very much their presence and believe their contribution will enrich our knowledge and experiences in buffalo development.

As Chairman of the Organizing Committee I wish to extend my most thanks to all participants for their contribution and I wish fruitful success for our Workshop.

I now officially declare opened the National Workshop on Swamp Buffalo Development.

 

December 17th, 2001.

 Go to top