Khanh Hoa develops Halal-compliant goat and sheep products

Turning challenges into strengths

On May 29, the People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa Province approved a project to develop goat and sheep products in accordance with Halal standards through 2030. This strategic initiative opens new opportunities for the province’s distinctive livestock sector to expand into international markets.

Khanh Hoa Province is characterized by mountainous terrain, low hills, and semi-mountainous areas that are widely distributed across its upland regions. The province experiences a prolonged dry season, high temperatures and uneven rainfall distribution, making crop cultivation challenging. However, these arid conditions provide a significant advantage for raising drought-tolerant livestock such as goats and sheep, thanks to the abundance of natural shrubs and vegetation suitable for animal feed.

In terms of breeding resources, the Phan Rang sheep and Bach Thao goat are the province’s two principal local breeds. Both are well adapted to dry conditions, possess strong disease resistance and produce high-quality meat. Phan Rang lamb has been granted geographical indication status, while the “Ninh Thuan Goat” brand received a certification trademark from Viet Nam’s Intellectual Property Office in 2017.

Building on these advantages, goat and sheep farming in Khanh Hoa has developed on a large scale. According to statistics as of the end of 2023, the province’s sheep population reached nearly 88,203 head, accounting for more than 86% of Viet Nam’s total sheep herd. Its goat population stood at 144,836 head, representing 5.2% of the national total and ranking sixth nationwide.

By the end of 2024, the province maintained a combined goat and sheep population of approximately 220,000 head, with annual meat production of around 4,000 tons, contributing significantly to the rural economy.

Despite its strengths, the local goat and sheep industry continues to face several constraints. Livestock production is still dominated by small-scale household farming, largely based on free-range grazing and traditional experience.

In addition, the slaughtering and processing infrastructure remains underdeveloped and fragmented, with most facilities operating on a small scale and failing to meet veterinary hygiene requirements. As a result, transitioning to professional livestock production and adopting international Halal-compliant biosecurity standards have become urgent necessities.

Targeting global markets

To implement the project, Khanh Hoa Province plans to shift toward more concentrated livestock production, strictly apply biosecurity measures, increase the share of medium- and large-scale farms, and reorganize smallholder farming into professionally managed, environmentally sustainable production systems.

Under the roadmap, during 2026–2027, the province aims to establish at least five goat- and sheep-farming zones in the communes of Phuoc Ha, Phuoc Dinh, Bac Ai, Anh Dung, and Cam An. During 2028–2030, at least 9 additional zones will be developed in the communes of Xuan Hai, Cong Hai, My Son, Ninh Hai, Thuan Nam, Northern Khanh Vinh, Western Khanh Vinh, Vinh Hai, and Phuoc Huu.

Production linkages in these areas will adopt advanced standards such as VietGAP and HACCP, utilize high-quality breeding stock, develop dedicated forage production areas, and apply scientific and technological solutions for circular waste management, with the goal of obtaining Halal certification from reputable international organizations.

Alongside the development of farming zones, Khanh Hoa Province is reviewing plans for centralized slaughter facilities and promoting investment in goat- and sheep-meat processing plants with a capacity of 200–300 animals per day.

Operations will be supervised by Halal certification bodies licensed in Viet Nam. At the same time, the province is actively exploring mechanisms for cooperation and mutual recognition with reputable international organizations such as JAKIM and MUIS to enhance the export value of its products.

Regarding value chain management, Khanh Hoa is focusing on selecting financially capable enterprises, including Nhan Thuan Phat Livestock Company, Quy Nhon Food Processing and Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and Khatoco Livestock Feed JSC, to serve as core partners in production linkages.

These companies will sign product off-take agreements with cooperatives and livestock households that raise between 1,000 and 1,500 animals, in compliance with VietGAP and HACCP standards. The management system will incorporate digital technologies and QR-code traceability for each product batch, while promoting a closed-loop “four-party linkage” model involving government, scientists, businesses, and farmers to reduce market risks for producers.

Brand development and international trade promotion have been identified as key drivers for deeper integration into global markets. The province will work closely with diplomatic missions and Viet Nam’s trade offices in Muslim-majority countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and the UAE to carry out trade promotion activities, identify distribution partners, and negotiate market expansion. These efforts aim to access promising consumer markets with strong import demand and stringent product quality and certification requirements.

Alongside direct trade promotion activities, Khanh Hoa Province will accelerate digital transformation in promoting Halal products by participating in e-commerce platforms and making effective use of social media channels. These efforts will expand access to international customers, support product traceability and Halal certification disclosure, and help build a professional, modern and effective “Khanh Hoa Halal Goat and Sheep” brand.