November 23, 2010

Vietnam's Mekong Delta to raise aquatic output by 50% by 2015

The Mekong Delta region of Vietnam, the largest aquaculture area in the country, has set targets to raise its aquaculture output by 50% by the year 2015, while keeping harvest areas unchanged, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The region is expected to harvest three million tonnes of aquatic products yearly by 2015 while keeping its area at around 830,000 hectares.

The increased output is expected to bring in US$4.47 billion in export revenues by the year, and to create 2.1 million local jobs.

The main aquatic breeding species in the region will include sugpo prawn, white-leg shrimp, tra fish, tilapia, slams, butterfish, goby, sweet snail, and abalone.

The delta will apply extensive farming cultivation methods to breed sugpo prawn and slams, while breeding of white leg shrimp and tra fish will follow an intensive cultivation method.

The remaining species will be cultivated following extensive farming, semi-intensive farming and intensive farming techniques, the ministry said.

To meet the target, each province in the delta is required to re-organize its seafood production system in co-operatives and associations to link partners involved in the seafood value chain, which includes breeders, processors and exporters.

Provinces will intensify the training of human resources and adjust irrigation planning to serve agricultural development in rural areas. The delta will also speed up construction progress on infrastructure projects and focus on developing the processing industry to raise product value.

In 2009, the region harvested 1.9 million tonnes of aquatic products from nearly 824,000 hectares under breeding, accounting for nearly 70% of Vietnam's total aquatic output.