September 24, 2024

 

Vietnam's aquaculture farmers advised to step into seaweed farming, following losses from typhoon

 

 

With Typhoon Yagi causing over ₫2,500 billion in losses for aquaculture farmers in Vietnam, experts are recommending a shift to seaweed farming, a cost-effective alternative that requires minimal input.

 

At a conference held on September 21 to address post-storm recovery efforts, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien emphasised the severe impact the storm had on aquaculture and livestock farming, two of the fastest-growing sectors in Vietnam's agriculture industry.

 

Initial assessments show that the storm and subsequent flooding caused the deaths of 22,808 livestock animals and over three million poultry across five heavily affected provinces: Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Yen Bai, Hanoi, and Thai Nguyen.

 

Additionally, aquaculture farmers in the northern provinces from Quang Ninh to Nghe An reported damage to over 23,500 hectares of fish farms, with 4,592 fish cages and nets destroyed.

 

In response to the significant losses, leaders from the Livestock Production and Fisheries Departments proposed measures to help farmers recover, including postponing debt payments and providing support to rebuild production. One suggestion came from Do Linh Phuong, chief executive officer of DBLP, who recommended that affected farmers pivot to seaweed farming.

 

Phuong explained that many farmers have lost nearly everything and lack the capital to resume aquaculture. Seaweed farming, however, requires minimal upfront costs and doesn't involve feeding the seaweed, making it a practical alternative.

 

The DBLP company has pledged to provide one million seaweed seedlings to help farmers in affected areas start seaweed cultivation quickly. Seaweed is considered a superfood and has applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and even biodegradable plastic production.

 

To help farmers rebuild, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has mobilised nearly ₫85 billion for the fisheries sector, ₫79 billion for livestock, and ₫2.4 billion for veterinary services from various businesses and organisations.

 

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien assured that these resources would be distributed transparently and effectively to ensure that those in need receive the necessary support. He stressed that with the collective efforts of government agencies, businesses, and farmers, the agriculture sector, particularly aquaculture and livestock, will recover swiftly.

 

- VietNamNet