March 10, 2009

Vietnamese farmers continue to move away from raising black tiger shrimp and toward the cheaper pacific white shrimp, according to the Tra Vinh Ministry of Department for Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) deputy director Pham Nam Duong.

White shrimp is less expensive to raise and grow faster, but carry a greater risk of disease.

Increasing profits to combat the global economic slump is the main reason for the switch.

The potential to make more money from the white shrimp has prompted farmers to move from Vietnam's central region to non-program farming areas such as the Cuu Long River Delta, south-western Vietnamese province.

Head of the Duyen Hai Agriculture and Rural Development Sub-department, Lam Minh said shrimp originating from hatcheries in the central region are now being raised in the Cuu Long River Delta.

However, the potential for epidemics such as Taura disease is greater, although regulators try to ensure that intensive white shrimp farming is carried out in program areas to avoid the spread of diseases.

Duong said that controlling farmers who do not maintain the highest standards will be difficult; also adding that there are regulations and penalties in place to curb the use of poor irrigation systems and haphazard farming methods, but enforcement is not easy for authorities.