August 14, 2023

Vietnam calls for boost in aquaculture to meet production targets

Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Phung Duc Tien, has issued an official directive urging municipal and provincial people's committees to ramp up aquaculture activities in the final months of 2023, Saigon News reported.

Highlighting both the strengths and challenges faced by the seafood industry, Deputy Minister Tien said that the export market posed the most significant hurdles. In the first half of the year, fishery output reached approximately 4.27 million tonnes, representing 47.2% of the government's aquaculture plan. Concurrently, the value of seafood exports was recorded at US$4.13 billion, indicating a 27.4% decline compared to the same period in 2022.

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development pointed out that the current low seafood prices are impacting profitability for breeders, causing hesitation among them. This hesitation raises concerns about potential shortages in raw materials for seafood processing and export, affecting the growth targets for 2023.

To ensure the stable and progressive development of the aquaculture sector in the remaining months of 2023 and to meet the demands for high-quality raw materials for processing and export, the ministry has recommended that localities encourage large-scale farm owners to focus on marine aquaculture, with a specific focus on high-value species.

Additionally, the ministry suggested maintaining areas dedicated to ecological and organic farming, rice shrimp, and wild shrimp, while simultaneously enhancing extensive farming techniques. This approach, combined with measures to increase productivity, is seen as crucial to boosting the cultivation of black tiger shrimps and white-legged shrimps, particularly in regions with favourable infrastructure conditions and effective production management.

The ministry's proposal extends to the development of the pangasius supply chain, including all stages from hatchling to commercial farming. Offshore aquaculture is recommended to be prioritised by breeders.

Lastly, the ministry has advised breeders to adopt cost-effective strategies in aquaculture. This includes the application of advanced techniques throughout the farming process to elevate survival rates and reduce feed coefficient (FCR). Additionally, fostering production linkages to minimize intermediaries is seen as pivotal in enabling farmers to access input materials at optimal prices, encompassing seeds, feed, and environmental treatment products for aquaculture.

-      Saigon News