Agricultural study tour to Vietnam
Robert Borrill, a farmer and entrepreneur from Hibaldstow, came to Rasen Rotary last week and gave a very interesting talk, resulting from his Nuffield Vietnam Study Tour.
Nuffield Farming Scholarships were set up in 1950’s by Lord Nuffield who awarded life changing Scholarships unlocking individual potential and broadening horizons through study tour and travel overseas. This particularly with reference to developing farming and the agricultural industries.
There are approximately 20 scholarships available / year, participants can be up to 45 years old, and the tour can last up to 10 weeks. There is also a young Nuffield scheme, which Robert participated in, in 1994 where he studied duck production for 4 months, travelling to Hong Kong, China, Thailand & USA. Following the study tour, Robert was involved in Reporting, attending Conferences, and ensuring wider knowledge exchange.
He now belongs to the Nuffield Poultry Group, all involved have completed the poultry scholarship or have been/are involved in the poultry industry. The group comprises not only duck farmers, but egg producers, broiler growers, vets, and nutritionists. Last year’s annual overseas trip visited the Netherlands, 2 years ago Brazil (soya production) 3 years ago Israel (egg sexing).
Robert had never visited Vietnam before and reported a country with a Population of 101.6 million, 16th largest populated country in the world, with 75% rural population, and having a median age 33.4years.
The country is 1.5 times larger than UK and is a long narrow country 1,030 miles North to South, so to travel by air from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh takes 2 hours, or the equivalent of flying from East Midlands to Barcelona.
The first stop was in Hanoi in the North to meet staff from the British Embassy Matthew Alborn-Crouch Agric, Food and drinks Attache. He explained that Vietnam is a one party Communist State, All land and property is owned by Govt but can be leased on a 50-year term.
There are 4 main political leaders: General Secretary, Prime Minister, President, Chair National Assembly with the Vietnam Min of Ag having more Civil Servants than China. That said, the largest trading partner is China purchasing mainly fruit. The 2nd largest is the USA trading catfish but this has been hit by 25% Trump tariffs. Rice is exported to West Africa and the Philippines. Tahere are £600m agricultural exports to UK, and this is shifting from quantity to quality, and the commodities sold to the UK are Prawns, and coffee, (Nescafe shifting from Robusta bean to higher quality Arabica beans).
UK Embassy aims to increase agricultural trade with Vietnam. Some major achievements have been access for day old ducklings over the past 2 years From Lincolnshire’s own Cherry Valley Farms. A surprising additional sale from the UK has been pig snouts, a delicacy in Vietnam, selling for £5+/- in local markets
Vietnam geopolitically wants to be friends with everyone – many countries are interested in trading with Vietnam, and they have a positive relationship with Russia.
UK citizens do not need Visas to travel to Vietnam, but US, Australia and New Zealand citizens do because of their involvement in the Vietnam war. However the Vietnamese love the US because they beat them!
The Vietnamese eat 109kg of meat per capita; Pork being the most popular meat but plateaued. Increasing poultry intake.
There is a lot of smog caused by petrol mopeds, but next year all new mopeds will be electric. Electricity produced mainly from coal fired plants. There is little renewable energy, but 50 billion dollars investment from other countries, means they plan net zero by 2050.( Few solar wind etc). There is a Govt. electric car company, Vinfast– but nearly all taxis are electric.
Vietnam is the 2nd largest producer of duck meat after China, 140m ducks per year. S E Asia has a big culture of eating ducks. In Vietnam ducks are cheaper than chicken and also sell the by-products, e.g. tongues for snacks etc.
Consumption of Ducks in Vietnam, 20kg/year and chicken 18kg Great for UK exports of genetic stock! Cherry Valley Farms were set up by Sir Joseph Nickerson in Rothwell, Lincolnshire, in 1959. Grew to be the World’s leading duck genetics business. Sold 22 years ago to Thai Company now Beijing Capital Agriculture. They have 25 breeding farms in Vietnam 600k breeding bird capacity.
Traditionally produced outdoors, gleaning rice fields post-harvest, used for pest control or on ponds integrated with fish – disease risk, and they recognize they need a more predictable production system. Moving from unorganised farming to efficient organised farming and marketing.
Other interesting Vietnam facts:
Vietnam big flower export market £100m 12% global export share. Many large flower markets in the cities. They export Orchids, roses and chrysanthemums to Japan, Australia & South Korea
Company Hoa Phat, produces 2/3 Vietnamese steel, 16m tonnes per year. Scunthorpe produces 2.5m tonnes per year.
Shrimp saltwater, prawn fresh water, produce for Export 4 USD billion per year to US, Japan, EU, China. Produced in the Mekong Delta south of Ho Chi Minh (Saigon),in deforested areas mangrove swamps and other coastal habitats where there are whole area vast swathes of ponds. Much destroyed by napalm or agent orange in Vietnam war
Swifts are housed in specially constructed man-made towers as the saliva is used for Birds nest soup, a delicacy originally harvested from natural caves, Many towers having a house below the tower where farmers live below in luxury accommodation. There is a large and growing bird’s nest soup industry built by huge demand from China, US and South Korea for edible bird’s nests. There are 22,000 towers producing 150 tons of Bird’s nests with a value of 600m USD.
Vietnam has had a history of occupation and war. French arrived in 1858 and took over then a Japanese invasion administrated by Vichy France. Post 1945 French worked way back in, defeated 1954.Country partitioned North and South. Mid 60’s US Vietnam war to 1973
Robert found wonderful cuisine and fantastic hospitality, from the Embassy, companies visited, sponsors etc. Food French influence, bread cakes. Also available Exotic water buffalo & frogs, seafood, chicken’s feet, a deep fried speciality!.
A very interesting report, enjoyed by the Rotarians and worthy of a wider distribution to those who like travel, geopolitics and the development of British Agricultural technology around the world.