Ha Tinh develops VietGAHP hill-chicken production chain

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Vietnam’s Ha Tinh province is advancing free-range hill-chicken production under VietGAHP standards. By combining standardized practices with market linkages, the initiative aims to raise product value, reduce disease risks, and build a sustainable production chain.

The province currently has more than 10 million birds, with chickens accounting for over 80%. However, poultry production remains fragmented and small-scale, with limited linkages among producers. Biosecurity practices and traceability systems also remains limited.

These gaps have resulted in inconsistent product quality, low added value, and difficulties in accessing modern distribution channels.

Standardizing production under VietGAHP

As demand for quality, food safety, and traceability grows, VietGAHP-compliant production linked to market outlets is emerging as a path to hill-chicken competitiveness.

Against this backdrop, the Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center launched a model in 2026 titled ‘Developing a VietGAHP-certified free-range hill-chicken production area linked to product sales’.

The pilot involves 3000 Ri hybrid chickens raised by seven households in Mai Hoa and Kim Hoa communes. Its goal is to establish a disease‑safe production area while gradually building a farm‑to‑market value chain.

The model applies VietGAHP practices across housing, breed selection, feeding, disease prevention, record‑keeping, and traceability. The Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center has also provided technical training, monitor flock growth, and support VietGAHP certification. 

Participating households have maintained production records and followed guidelines on housing sanitation and flock management provided by technical staff. After one month, the chickens showed uniform growth, averaging 0.8 kg per bird, with a survival rate of 97%.

Biosecurity strengthens disease control

Biosecurity is central to the model, given persistent poultry disease risks. Farmers follow strict procedures for cleaning and disinfecting houses, controlling movement, adhering to vaccination schedules, and preparing outbreak response measures.

Compliance with biosecurity requirements reduce mortality, improve product quality, and limit environmental impacts. Tran Thanh Tinh, a participating farmer from Son Truong village in Kim Hoa commune, noted that technical guidance on housing, breed selection, and flock management helped reduce losses and improve uniform growth. He added that the model is shifting farmers’ focus from output alone toward quality and efficiency.

“We expect that once the products receive VietGAHP certification and a purchasing company is linked to the model, we will have greater confidence in market access and more stable prices, creating an incentive to expand production in the coming years,” Mr Tinh said.

Market linkages raised product value

Beyond standardizing production, the model seeks to establish stable market linkages. Participating households will form a farmer cooperative group, adopt standardized production practices, consolidate output, develop a common brand and sign contracts with purchasing companies.

The plan targets  at least 60% of commercial chicken output from the first production cycle to be sold through linkage contracts. This proportion is expected to rise to 70-80% in subsequent cycles. VietGAHP compliance and traceability are expected to secure prices 10–15% above market levels, improving farmer incomes. 

Nguyen Huu Ngoc, Director of the Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center, said the model aims to enhance household efficiency while laying the foundation for a disease‑safe hill‑chicken production area. Standardized practices, stronger biosecurity, and market linkages are expected to provide a stable path for growth and competitiveness.