Developing the key industry of aquaculture

​Freshwater fish farming area according to VietGAP standards in Thien Tan Commune, Vinh Cuu District. Photo: Phan Anh

Huge potential for growth

In recent years, the area of ​​aquaculture in the province has been continuously expanded. Currently, the total area of ​​aquaculture in ponds and lakes in the province is nearly 8.8 thousand hectares. In which, the area of ​​fish farming is over 6,700 ha; shrimp farming area is over 2 thousand ha. Aquaculture areas of the province are also quite diverse, including: freshwater aquaculture, brackish water aquaculture, etc.

Since the beginning of the year, aquaculture farmers have faced many difficulties because a series of shrimp and fish products have dropped in price because the consumption market was affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. The selling price of products is low while the price of animal feed and many other input costs have increased, adding to the burden on farmers. However, the aquaculture industry in the province is still among the top in terms of growth compared to the general level of the fields of cultivation and animal husbandry. Accumulated in the first 5 months of 2021, the province's seafood output reached over 29,000 tons, an increase of over 1,000 tons, an increase of more than 3.6% over the same period. In which, fish production accounted for a large proportion with more than 25.3 thousand tons, shrimp one reached over 3.2 thousand tons.

Farmers also have many good models in investment and development in aquaculture. Mr. Nguyen Van Khai, a farmer in Phu Dien Commune, Tan Phu District said that his family has just expanded the area of ​​fish farming on the rice cultivation area according to the model of 2 crops of rice plus 1 crop of fish. In the last season, the price of freshwater fish has decreased sharply compared to the same period every year, but his family still has a profit of hundreds of millions VND per hectare per crop. Mr. Khai compared: “The model of intercropping fish in rice fields gives a stable and much higher income than farming rice only. Fish farming helps the land to be more fertile, so rice has a high yield. Fish raised in the field take advantage of available food sources such as stubble after reaping germinating with straw, weeds...so food costs are saved.

Producing in the direction of specialized farming​

People catching fish from cages in Dinh Quan District. Photo: Phan Anh

Dong Nai is implementing many projects to develop diverse areas specializing in freshwater aquaculture according to VietGAP process; applying high technology to develop brackish water shrimp farming areas according to safety requirements, ensuring environmental hygiene, building a brand by prestige and quality. In the coming period, the aquaculture industry in the province will continue to be oriented to develop in the direction of applying new technologies, shifting from traditional intensive farming to mechanization and gradually shifting to automation, establishing the specialized farming area.

Nhon Trach District is the largest brackish water aquaculture area in the province. During the peak period, the total area of ​​aquaculture in the district sometimes reaches more than 2.2 thousand hectares, mainly brackish water shrimp farming. Shrimp farmers in Nhon Trach are also shifting from extensive farming to applying high-tech farming in the direction of intensive farming, with much higher productivity than traditional methods.

Mr. Huynh Van Ba, a shrimp farmer in Phu Huu Commune, Nhon Trach District, commented that in the past, shrimp farming was extensive, with only one crop a year, low yield. At present, many farmers switch to intensive farming with 2-3 crops per year. The most popular method today is changing from earthen pond farming to the application of new technology of tarpaulin lining, netting for ponds with biosecurity process from input water treatment; clean ponds regularly and select good variety. Accordingly, farmers have better control over diseases, productivity and quality of shrimps are also better.

Talking about the development potential of the aquaculture industry, especially the opportunities in the export market in the coming time, Mr. Le Tran Ba ​​Thong, Deputy General Director of Growmax Aquafeed Company Limited (Loc An Industrial Zone, Long Thanh District) assessed that the local government has a very good support policy for investors in livestock development, including aquaculture. The seafood industry is one of the strong export industries of Vietnam, one of the top export industries in the world. The export potential of Vietnamese shrimp is still huge. Dong Nai has the advantage of developing aquaculture, especially shrimp, in which districts of Long Thanh and Nhon Trach are very good farming areas. In addition to investing in shrimp feed processing plants, the enterprise will invest in the model shrimp farms as an example in a closed chain from seed production, food, to technical support for shrimp farmers. 

 Phan Anh

With the goal of forming areas specializing in safe aquaculture, Dong Nai has had many programs to encourage and support the replication of the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) model. Up to now, the whole province has developed 14 VietGAP standard aquaculture areas with an area of over 408 hectares and nearly 81,000 m3 of cages. Total output of VietGAP seafood reached nearly 15.7 thousand tons. In addition, many programs to support cooperatives and aquaculture areas meeting VietGAP standards are being implemented.