This information was shared by Nguyen Xuan Duong, Chairman of the Vietnam Animal Husbandry Association, at a dairy industry development seminar on 5/8. According to Mr. Duong, Vietnam has a ratio of 3.3 dairy cows per 1,000 people, much lower than Thailand, Japan, and South Korea.

Consequently, domestic fresh milk production currently only meets about 38-40% of consumer demand. The remainder is imported, primarily as milk powder for reconstitution. This, according to Mr. Duong, affects the nutritional value of the product and weakens the domestic dairy farming value chain. The Chairman of the Vietnam Animal Husbandry Association believes that if the government doesn't implement timely and strong policies, the dairy industry will struggle to achieve its goal of 60% domestic raw material self-sufficiency by 2030.

Nguyen Xuan Duong, Chairman of the Vietnam Animal Husbandry Association, speaking at the dairy industry seminar on 5/8. Photo: Cong Thuong Newspaper

Nguyen Xuan Duong, Chairman of the Vietnam Animal Husbandry Association, speaking at the dairy industry seminar on 5/8. Photo: Cong Thuong Newspaper

The average milk consumption per capita in Vietnam is about 27 liters per year. This consumption is projected to continue increasing by 7-8% annually. However, Vietnam's per capita milk consumption remains low compared to other countries such as Thailand (35 liters), Singapore (45 liters), and European countries (80-100 liters).

Associate Professor Dr. Vu Nguyen Thanh, Director of the Institute of Food Industry, believes that reconstituted milk powder was once a suitable solution when Vietnam faced economic difficulties, contributing to supplementing nutrition for children during their development. However, as socio-economic conditions have changed, the continued use of reconstituted or blended milk needs reconsideration.

Sharing the same view, Professor Dr. Le Thi Hop, President of the Vietnam Association of Women Intellectuals and former Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, cited the example of milk used in school milk programs labeled "pasteurized fresh milk," but in reality, it's difficult to determine whether it's fresh raw milk or reconstituted milk powder. "If it's reconstituted milk, the cost may be lower, but the nutritional quality is not as good as pure fresh milk," she said, while recommending that management agencies establish clear regulations on milk classification and labeling to build trust and ensure nutritional benefits for students.

Phuong Dung