March 26, 2007

 

Developing shrimp farms in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region needs more strategy
 

 

Shrimp production in the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam is on the rise as many farmers are starting to convert low-yield rice paddies into shrimp farms, but the industry still needs a strategic approach to maximize its potential.

 

The progress of Mekong shrimp breeding over years had boosted local income, provided new jobs and increased production output to both the domestic and overseas markets, said acting head of the Ministry of Fisheries' Department of Aquaculture Vu Van Dung.

 

But it still needs careful planning, high quality hybrids and advanced breeding methods to reach its efficiency, according to Dung.

 

He called on local farmers to reorganise shrimp breeding, select quality hybrids, adhere to schedules and employ advanced farming methods to obtain even higher outputs.

 

The Mekong River Delta now boasts 560,000 hectares of shrimp farms producing 293,000 tonnes of shrimp. Over the last six years, more than 300,000 hectares of low yielding rice fields in the delta have been converted into lucrative shrimp farms.

 

Additionally, innovative farmers in Kien Giang Province obtained 12,000 tonnes of shrimp by raising shrimp in active rice paddies last year.

 

Director of Kien Giang Fisheries Department Huynh Van Ganh said this method did not require advanced technology and big investment yet nearly doubled farmers' income from their previous rice cultivation profits.

 

Soc Trang provincial authorities also plan to expand shrimp farms from 33,000 hectares in 2000 to 45,000 hectares by 2010 to take advantage of the region's dense waterways and canals. The province's shrimp output has increased by more than 30 percent to 3.2 tonnes per hectare over the last six years.

 

The southernmost province of Ca Mau, the country's biggest shrimp producer and exporter, had 247,000 hectares of shrimp cultivation land as of 2006. The province's output in 2006 reached 360 kilograms per hectare, an increase of 7.7 percent over 2005. Ca Mau produced more than 100,000 tonnes of shrimp last year, exporting more than US$580 million worth to lead the country in shrimp exports.

 

The biggest risk facing shrimp farmers in the Mekong Delta was the region's failure to control dead shrimp disease, said the Aqua-Products Research Institute.

 

In 2006, up to 20 per cent of shrimp farmers suffered losses due to the disease.

 

The Ministry of Fisheries has ordered localities in the Delta to carefully select high quality breeds, apply clean shrimp breeding, protect the water environment and minimise shrimp disease.