Aquaculture industry has improved

​Breeding freshwater fish in cages on La Nga River, Dinh Quan District. Photo by Phan Anh

Currently, the prices of freshwater fish and other aquatic products are standing at a high level, helping aqua farmers to overcome a difficult period to independently invest in production.

Fish and shrimp prices increase

Mr. Bui Thanh Vu, owner of a fish cage on La Nga River (Phu Ngoc Commune, Dinh Quan District) said that carp price is VND43,000 per kilogram, red snapper price is between VND37,000 and VND38,000 per kilogram, price of crystal eyed catfish is VND78,000 per kilogram, increasing of tens of thousands of VND per kilogram over the same period. “With this price, cage fish farmers have made a good profit. However, the current worry of farmers is that many aqua feed agents have just announced that the price of aqua feed will have a new increase, some by VND500 per kilogram. The continuous increase in bran price, with high input costs, makes farmers worry," said Mr. Vu.

After a period of unstable fish farming, Mr. Tong Van Sy, a resident of cage fish farming in Hiep Hoa Ward, Bien Hoa City switched to raising ornamental fish. Because the supply is less than the demand, the consumption of these kinds of fish has been always stable at a good profit. According to Mr. Sy: “In the past, I invested in raising specialty fish such as: halibut, cinnamon fish, black carp, etc. but the profit was not as expected because specialty fish was picky, and the farming time was too long, so focus on raising the ornamental fish. Because we ourselves invest in self-production of variety and raise fish of good quality, there is no shortage of close friends."

In the past time, thanks to good export, farmed shrimp products are usually stable at good prices. Currently, the price of white-leg shrimp sold at the pond ranges from VND140,000 to VND230,000 per kilogram depending on the size; Black tiger shrimp costs between VND150,000 and VND240,000 per kilogram, this price makes good profits for farmers.

The fish cage of Mr. Tong Van Sy, in the cage fish village of Hiep Hoa Ward, Bien Hoa City, raising the ornamental fish with high profits. Photo by Phan Anh

Many localities promote the investment

Income from aquaculture is higher than many agricultural production businesses. Accordingly, many localities of Dong Nai Province are interested in investing in developing this model, supporting farmers to replicate the safe aquaculture model, and join the linkage chain for sustainable development.

Mr. Phan Trung Hieu, Vice Chairman of Bao Hoa Commune People's Committee, Xuan Loc District said, compared with many farming and aquaculture models, the profit is this business is better. The commune has the advantage that it has established a specialized freshwater fish farming area in Bung Can Hamlet with an area of ​​tens of hectares. In which, more than 30 hectares have implemented the VietGAP farming process. This specialized farming area has the strength to develop the field perch, has an aquaculture cooperative group to link farmers to produce in chains. Currently, perch is at a good price, so farmers can be confifent to raise this kind of fish.

Shrimp with high economic value is being raised by many localities. Currently, the province has 68 hectares of giant freshwater shrimp farming with a total harvest of about 130 tons per crop per year, mainly concentrated in Tan Phu District. This is a production model with high economic efficiency with an average profit of VND200 million - VND250 million per hectare per crop. In which, Tan Phu District has established a farming area of ​​giant freshwater shrimp certified to meet VietGAP standards with an area of ​​over 27 hectares. However, freshwater prawn farming in the province is still in the form of smallholder farmers.

For sustainable development, the Provincial People's Committee has issued the plan No. 14523/KH-UBND on the development of giant freshwater shrimp production in the province in the period of 2021-2025, with orientation to 2030. The plan sets out targets to by 2025, develop the area of ​​giant freshwater prawn farming in the province to reach 100 hectares; production value reached VND25.5 billion, the average growth is 10% per year. By 2030, the total area of ​​giant freshwater shrimp farming will reach 200 hectares, the production value will reach VND42 billion, the average growth rate will be over 15.25% per year. Forming concentrated freshwater shrimp farming areas in the direction of modernity, applying advanced scientific and technological achievements in production, being environmentally friendly, suitable to the ecological characteristics of each region to increase productivity, creating a large volume of high-quality products.

Replication of high-tech aquaculture model is also being promoted by Nhon Trach District and Long Thanh District. Mr. Nguyen Van Nhan, Head of Economic Department of Nhon Trach District, said that the whole district currently has 156 hectares of hi-tech shrimp farming area with 66 farming households. High technology is applied such as: using an automatic feeding system, covering the pond cooling net, lining the bottom of the pond and techniques for waste treatment, controlling the water environment.

Phan Anh

According to the People's Committee of Nhon Trach District, the locality is replicating the high-tech application of aquaculture model. Thanks to the application of high-tech shrimp farming, farmers have good control over seed, seed loss rate, disease safety, just the right amount of food according to shrimp's needs, and especially good handling of shrimp manure at the bottom of the ponds, ensuring the environment in aquaculture. In particular, the average yield is 15 tons per hectare per crop. Farmers earn about VND1.1 billion per hectare per crop with submerged ponds and VND1.5 billion per hectare per crop with floating round tanks; much higher profit than the traditional shrimp farming model.