Expectations on fishery

 New technique in shrimp farming, covering the pond bottom with tarpaulins and above the surface with nets, is attracting farmers due to high profit.

 

Fishery is an area that is expected to contribute much to the growth of the entire agricultural sector. Particularly, brackish water shrimp farming is the leading economic value compared to other models of aquaculture. Due to the significance it has offered, Dong Nai province has many policies to encourage brackish water shrimp farming to bring about stable development.

 

According to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the value of agricultural, forestry and fishery production for the first 6 months of 2017 saw a low growth rate of 2.48% compared to the annual growth rate of about 4%/year. The key fields of Dong Nai are at low growth rate due to unfavorable weather conditions and especially unsustainable factors in the consumption market, causing many commodity prices to fall. Specifically, animal husbandry increased by only 2.59%, and cultivation increased by 1.5%. Meanwhile, aquaculture production growth rate remained stable at 5.8% and ranked first in agricultural production.

Development of the fishery sector toward sustainability and security are being attached to great importance by the province. From the beginning of the year, the province has implemented a series of activities, such as: conducting surveys, quality and growth assessment, and monitoring food hygiene and safety in oyster farming process in Nhon Trach district. This is a new farming model with high economic efficiency. On that basis, the provincial People's Committee has approved the outline and planning tasks, and detailed planning budget for concentrated aquatic animal production in Nhon Trach with the total budget of over 1.2 billion for the period 2017-2020, with orientation toward 2030.

Dong Nai is also actively implementing many investment projects to develop fisheries; specifically, the project of investing in hi-tech farming zone in Phuoc An commune (Nhon Trach district); supporting the implementation of VietGAP production and certification procedures for shrimp farming in Tra Co (Tan Phu district). Additionally, the province also focuses on developing plans to inspect aquatic farming activities, the use and trading of fishery materials in the process of farming; paying attention to inspection and supervision of food safety in the fisheries, especially control of residues of chemicals and antibiotics banned in aquaculture products.

 

Brackish water shrimp farming is generating the most income in aquaculture. Farmers in brackish water areas, such as Long Thanh and Nhon Trach, are switching to brackish water shrimp farming, using high technology in production for sustainable development.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Yen, Vice Chairman of Phu Huu Commune People's Committee (Nhon Trach District), said that the whole commune has developed more than 20 hectares of brackish water shrimp switched from inefficient rice production. In fact, shrimp farming has yielded 10 times as much profit as rice production. The province has about 200 hectares of paddy land located along the Dong Nai River which is suitable for switching to brackish water aquaculture.

Phu Huu commune is focusing on supporting and encouraging farmers to switch to brackish water shrimp farming. Many households boldly invest capital in the new technique to cover the pond bottom to reduce the risk of disease and increase productivity and quality of shrimp. "The commune is concentrating on investing in infrastructure for brackish water shrimp farming, especially in electrical wiring system for production. The commune has also connected with the bank to assist farmers in accessing investment capital. The agricultural extension association also sent the engineers to provide technical training to farmers," said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Yen.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a pioneer farmer who switched from extensive shrimp farming to industrial shrimp farming and applied new technology in Long Tho commune (Nhon Trach district), said: "the new technique covering the pond bottom with tarpaulins and above pond surface with nets in shrimp farming has proven effective in practical production, assisting shrimp farmers in effective water treatment so the shrimp grow faster, reducing the risk of disease. This model attracts many farmers to make investment in."

According to brackish water shrimp farmers, the price of white leg shrimp has been low for the last 3 months, causing shrimp farmers to face difficulties. However, from the beginning of the year the average price of brackish water fishery products is still higher than the same period every year. White leg shrimp price has recovered and shrimp farmers expect a good harvest in both quantity and price in the coming time.