December 15, 2003

US$2.3 Million Shrimp Farm Opens in Vietnam

A new shrimp breeding farm, costing US$2.3 million, has opened in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau in Vietnam. It will boost production shrimp export by 250 tons annually.

The 40ha farm uses advanced technology that protects the environment, said Nguyen Dinh Thiet, chairman of farm's owner, the Trung Viet NDT Joint Stock company, a subsidiary of the US-based NTD Group.

Nguyen Quoc Vinh, director of the Trung Viet shrimp farm, said the shrimp will be bred for export only and will be sold primarily to the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Europe.

"It is hoped the advanced shrimp breeding technology at the Trung Viet Farm will be transferred to local farmers so the province's seafood production and export will increase in the years to come," Nguyen Minh Tri, director of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Fishery Department, said.

The technology, which uses no harmful chemicals in the production process, had helped other countries build up their shrimp breeding industries, he said.

The shrimp are expected to weigh about 29g fully grown, and will be harvested three times a year. Production costs are expected to be lower than usual, with VND24,500 ($1.58) per kilogram.

Prior to opening, Trung Viet NDT conducted a shrimp breeding trial at a 10ha farm in Long Dat District in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

The coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has 156km of coastline, 100,000sq.km of continental shelf, and a vast area, consisting of the Dinh, Ray and Thi Vai rivers, which could be used for a large aquaculture industry.

Tri said the province's seafood exports in 2003 was estimated at $110 million, representing 4.5% of Vietnam's total seafood exports.