September 17, 2004

 

 

Vietnam May Become Leading Black Tiger Shrimp Producer
 

Last year, Vietnam grew 300,000 tons of shrimp of which farmed shrimp hit 244,000 tons. The country's shrimp export value exceeded US$1 billion, accounting for 49% of the total aquatic export value. Thus shrimp has an important role in the aquatic export mechanism.

 

However, shrimp cultivation is full of risks. Besides the anti-dumping case, farmers also have to deal with diseases. Shrimp raisers in Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau suffered large losses when shrimp died out.

 

Thus, about 50% shrimp growing area in some provinces in the Mekong Delta have been left un-used. Farmers either have no capital or are too scared to pump more money into shrimp raising.

 

Moreover, price of raw shrimp plummeted during harvest. Price of commercial shrimp reduced by VND20,000-40,000 per kilo during the first year half in the Mekong Delta. Shrimp depreciated to VND 80,000/kilo from VND120,000/kilo (30 heads per kilo), to VND70,000 from VND90,000/kilo (40 heads per kilo).

 

Meanwhile, one kilo of commercial shrimp are raised for VND45,000-50,000 per kilo given favourable weather conditions as well as prices of materials and foods remaining stable.

 

This year, shrimp feed appreciates VND3,000/kilo, petroleum products VND1,000/kilo.

 

At the present, shrimp price edges up, yet buyers have been reluctant due to the US anti-dumping case. With the American market frozen, businesses have found it hard to seek new outlets. Moreover weather conditions are often changeable during the months ending the year, with the environment heavily polluted. Shrimp farmers have to cope with various difficulties.

 

However, Vietnam monopolises the growing black tiger shrimp among the five defendant countries in the anti-dumping lawsuit.

 

Under the Vietnam Government's plan, by 2005, aquatic output in the Mekong Delta will reach 1.7 million tons of which 250,000 tons are shrimp, while aquatic export value US$1.5 billion, accounting for 60% the country's output. By 2010, aquatic output in the region must hit over 2 million tons of which 400,000 tons are shrimp.

 

To realize the target, provinces in the Mekong Delta have hurriedly implemented 65 small and medium-scaled infrastructure projects. The Ministry of Fisheries and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) have also set up some projects on shrimp growing area management.

 

Shrimp dying out may be attributed to weak broodstock. Each year, the Mekong Delta needs tens of billions of shrimp broodstock but the local hatcheries can only meet 20-30% demand.

To cope with the situation, a specialized black tiger shrimp hatchery project capitalized VND33.2 billion has been performed in An Hai commune, Ninh Phuoc province. It is projected to supply 10 billion of black tiger shrimp broodstock annually.

 

Shrimp farming is a special industry requiring a large amount of investment capital yet usually leaving adverse impacts on the environment. Environment-friendly shrimp farming has been implemented on a trial basis.

 

Thus, sustainable shrimp raising and the target to become a leading black shrimp tiger producing country may be successfully accessed by 2010.

 

In the short term, Vietnam farmers should perform one black tiger shrimp crop in a year, says Dr. Nguyen Van Hao, Acting Director of the Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 2.

 

The Bac Lieu Aquaculture Department advises farmers to maximize using medical and industrial feed, grow shrimp at a suitable density and exercise intensive culturing of some kinds of fish and crab.

 

Moreover farmers should avoid raising shrimp during unfavourable periods such as heat season falling in March through May, or rainy season in late September through November, says engineer Nguyen Van Thuoc.