June 9, 2008

Vietnam fish farmers still plagued with losses

Vietnamese fish farmers still cannot find buyers for their fish despite a recent move by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai asking commercial banks to provide capital to seafood processors, observers said.

Industry analysts said there has been no concrete improvement since June 1, when Hai asked leaders of eight Cuu Long River Delta provinces to take necessary measures to help Vietnamese farmers sell fish.

Le Van Hiep, who has 2 hectares of catfish farming ponds in Phu Tan district in An Giang province, said that farmers are losing VND1 million for every tonne of fish.

Vo Van Doi, director of Can Tho Department for Agriculture and Rural Development, saidd there are some 50,000 tonnes of tra and basa fish left unsold among the local farmers.