(News Portal – Dong Nai) - Since the COVID-19 pandemic, aquaculture activities have faced greater difficulties due to rising feed prices and other costs, while output prices have generally remained at low levels. However, the aquaculture sector continues to lead in growth.
Newly invested high-tech shrimp farming area of Thanh Cong Aquaculture Services Cooperative in Phuoc An Commune, Nhon Trach District
Among aquaculture practices, brackish water farming, especially high-tech shrimp farming, remains at the forefront for profitability, thanks to the application of technology that helps reduce production costs and increases the competitive advantage of shrimp amidst a challenging market.
Finding Opportunities
According to a report from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first six months of 2024, the total aquaculture output reached nearly 39.7 thousand tons, an increase of over 4.9% compared to the same period last year, marking the highest growth rate among the sectors of cultivation and animal husbandry. The province currently has nearly 1.7 thousand hectares of brackish water aquaculture, primarily for shrimp farming, yielding nearly 5 thousand tons annually, mainly concentrated in Nhon Trach District.
However, aquaculture also faces many challenges. Local aquaculture farmers report that the price of aquaculture feed has continuously increased. Currently, the prices of various types of aquaculture feed and medicines for disease prevention and treatment remain high, with no signs of decreasing. Consequently, the cost of aquaculture production has risen, while the market for consumption remains unstable, posing significant challenges for farmers.
Currently, the brackish water shrimp farming areas are in a favorable season for shrimp growth and development. However, due to abundant supply and low demand in both domestic and export markets, shrimp prices have dropped sharply. Specifically, the price of whiteleg shrimp at a size of 30 shrimp/kg is currently only 120,000-130,000 VND/kg, while smaller ones sell for less than 100,000 VND/kg, which is 5,000-10,000 VND/kg lower than the same period last year. This price is 20,000-30,000 VND/kg lower than the average selling price in previous years.
Additionally, according to brackish water shrimp farmers, climate change and erratic weather patterns have made shrimp farming more challenging, with shrimp becoming more prone to disease. Although this is currently one of the better seasons for shrimp farming compared to other times of the year, many brackish water shrimp farmers in Nhon Trach and Long Thanh Districts are proactively extending their farming cycles and reducing production to minimize the risk of losses. According to these farmers, it is expected that in the last months of the year, the demand for brackish water shrimp in both the domestic and export markets will peak, and they hope that better prices during this period will provide an opportunity to increase production and supply.
High-Tech Applications
In response to these challenges, many brackish water shrimp farmers are boldly transitioning from traditional shrimp farming to applying high-tech methods, moving towards industrial-scale farming to reduce production costs and increase market competitiveness.
Mr. Nguyen Huy Binh, Director of Thanh Cong Aquaculture Services Cooperative, shared that technology in shrimp farming is continuously improving, with more systematic investments in farming systems, allowing for an increase in the number of farming cycles per year. The harvest yield of each cycle has also increased significantly compared to traditional methods. Importantly, disease control has improved, so farmers no longer fear losing their crops as they did before. As a result, despite the current difficulties, Mr. Binh still rented an additional 13 hectares of land last year to invest in 26 high-tech shrimp farming ponds.
Mr. Pham Thanh Tuan, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Phuoc An Commune (Nhon Trach District), observed that in recent years, the area of brackish water shrimp farming using high-tech methods in the locality has steadily increased. Currently, the commune has nearly 170 hectares of high-tech brackish water shrimp farming. Thanks to technology application and good environmental management, there have been almost no losses due to disease or failure to meet production targets. The locality also encourages the expansion of this highly effective economic model.
The commune still has about 800 hectares of extensive farming, with significant potential for conversion to high-tech farming. However, because this requires substantial investment and technical expertise, it is difficult to implement widespread conversion. According to Mr. Tuan: "The specialized high-tech farming areas are already established, and the local authority's current priority is to attract businesses to invest and provide guaranteed contracts for farmers, ensuring a stable market for their products. Only then can this economic model truly develop sustainably."