Taking advantage of the strengths of the aquaculture industry

​Harvesting pangasius at VietGAP farming area, Thien Tan Commune, Vinh Cuu District. Photo by Phan Anh

This is also a key industry of the province, so the province will focus on developing in the coming time not only to meet the domestic market but also to export.

Good growth in difficulties

In the past two years, the aquaculture industry has also faced many common challenges of the agricultural industry due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic and a series of difficulties such as inflation causing high production costs, high income in the consumer market. At times, the price of fish and shrimp also fell deeply, causing farmers to lose profits. 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.

Specifically, in 2021, seafood production in the province was estimated at over 71.2 thousand tons, up 6.1% over the same period. This impressive growth is all thanks to the well-developed aquaculture in the province with aquaculture production reaching nearly 65.4 thousand tons, an increase of more than 6.7% over the same period. Meanwhile, catches of aquatic products reached nearly 5.9 thousand tons, down 0.21% over the same period. This is an impressive growth because in 2021, seafood production will be damaged by natural disasters. Specifically, storms, heavy rain and hail caused water to rise and flood in communes of Phu Hoa, Phu Vinh, Ngoc Dinh, and Thanh Son, Dinh Quan district causing over 2,000 tons of fish deaths. Damage was estimated at more than VND84 billion.

From the beginning of the year, aquaculture has maintained a good growth rate, with no disease outbreaks on farmed objects. Only in the first quarter of 2022, the total seafood production reached nearly 19.9 thousand tons, up 8.76% over the same period. Currently, most aquatic products are consumed in a stable manner.

Although there have been many times when the selling price has decreased and the consumption market has been slower due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, aquaculture is still among the top in terms of high income compared to other livestock and farming sectors. In particular, the freshwater freshwater prawn farming model is generating profits of hundreds of millions of VND per crop, and the farming of black tiger shrimp brought about billions of VND per year.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Hau, owner of a fish cage on La Nga River, Phu Ngoc Commune, Dinh Quan District said that over the past 1 month, all kinds of freshwater fish have simultaneously increased in price and consumption in the market is stable. Many items such as sardines, carp... increased by tens of thousands of VND per kilogram compared to the beginning of the year. With the current selling price, fish farmers are making good profits for farmers.

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Dang Duc Thuan, a farmer in Phu Dien Commune, Tan Phu District said: “I boldly switched from the rice-growing model to raising field fish such as snakehead and catfish. Many people in this area are also converting rice fields into fish ponds because the investment in fish farming gives a much higher income than growing rice and other annual crops.”

 Tra Co and Tan Phu Giant Freshwater Shrimp Farming areas generate high profits.

Photo by Phan Anh

Diversity of specialty areas

Dong Nai has the largest water surface area in the Southeast, many advantages for aquaculture development such as hydroelectric reservoirs, a system of lakes, dams, and rivers. Dong Nai river system, La Nga River and Thi Vai River with an area of ​​nearly 70,000 hectares of water surface. The structure of the fishery industry is changing quite clearly in the direction of rapidly increasing the proportion of aquaculture and reducing the proportion of exploitation.

Recently, the province's aquaculture area has been continuously expanded. Currently, the total area of ​​aquaculture ponds and lakes in the province is nearly 9,000 hectares. In which, the area of ​​fish farming is over 6,700 ha; shrimp farming area is over 2,000 ha. Many localities in the province have established specialized aquaculture areas; in which there are areas that cultivate specialties that are known to the market and brought about high incomes.

Mr. Pham Tri Tam, owner of a shrimp purchasing agent in Tra Co Commune, Tan Phu District said that this shrimp farming area has been established for more than 20 years with an area of ​​tens of hectares. Tra Co giant freshwater shrimp products are known in the market for their quality, so they are often sold at high prices. Even at times when the market is facing difficulties in terms of consumption, Tra Co giant freshwater shrimp is not worried about price drop and inventory. Because shrimp farmers in Tra Co do not focus on harvesting in each peak season, they harvest step by step from the last months of this year to January and February of next year. Therefore, shrimp prices are quite stable throughout the harvest season.

With more than 2,000 hectares of water surface area for aquaculture, Nhon Trach District is the largest brackish water aquaculture area in the province. This locality has also formed specialized farming areas for specialties such as white-leg shrimp, black tiger shrimp, crab, scallops, oysters, etc. Ms. Tran Phuong Loan, a long-time oyster farmer in Phuoc An Commune, Nhon Trach District commented, oyster farming gives a fairly stable income. Accordingly, many households boldly invested and formed a concentrated farming area for this commodity. Many households have been with them for a long time, so they have good technology and experience in raising oysters. Thanks to that, traders everywhere know how to buy and sell, so the consumption has been quite stable.

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