Selling slow-growing shrimp to 'secure profits'

Farmers in Quynh Luu (Nghe An province) harvest shrimp for the second crop. Photo: Viet Hung

After completing the preparation of the ponds for the first crop, starting from June 15th, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hoa in Quynh Yen commune began stocking shrimp for the second crop. He uses two ponds with a total area of ​​3,000 m².²The shrimp are currently 70-80 days old. Last year, shrimp at this stage weighed 70-80 per kilogram, but this season they are 100-110 per kilogram. Because the shrimp are growing slowly, Mr. Hoa is harvesting the 80-day-old shrimp from his pond and selling them to traders.

"We determined that raising shrimp in the second crop is usually more difficult and uncertain than the first crop due to unpredictable weather and frequent diseases. Although the family followed the proper procedures, the shrimp still grew slowly, and continuing to raise them would cost about 3 million VND in feed per day. Accepting lower profits, the family sold them 10 days early," said Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hoa.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hoa in Quynh Yen commune is harvesting his second shrimp crop. After 80 days of farming, the shrimp only reached 110 shrimp per kilogram. Photo: Viet Hung

It's not just Mr. Hoa's household; many other shrimp farmers in Quynh Bang commune are also urgently harvesting their second crop due to slow growth.Mr. Ho Van Nam, a shrimp farmer in Mai Giang hamlet, said that raising shrimp in the second crop under hot weather conditions, while farmers are applying water cooling procedures to stabilize the environment for shrimp growth, often experiences heavy rains that cause thermal shock to the shrimp. Therefore, the shrimp usually develop less well in this crop.

"The family has just harvested their 3,000 m² fish pond."²"The shrimp reached a size of 120 shrimp per kilogram. The shrimp yield was low, and we sold them during a period of low prices, so we didn't make much profit. After deducting expenses, we only earned a profit of about 100 million VND after 3 months of farming (a 3-fold decrease compared to last year)," Mr. Nam said.

According to shrimp farmers in Quynh Luu, shrimp prices were high at the beginning of the first season, but have dropped since the middle of the first season. Currently, shrimp weighing 40-50 pieces per kilogram are priced at 160,000-170,000 VND; while those weighing 100-110 pieces per kilogram are priced at 90,000-100,000 VND.

Traders are buying shrimp from the local people. Currently, the purchase price of shrimp is low: 40-50 shrimp/kg is priced at 160,000-170,000 VND; 100-110 shrimp/kg is priced at 90,000-100,000 VND.

Mr. Vu Van Duong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Bang commune, said that the locality has more than 200 hectares of shrimp farming area. Recognizing that the second crop is difficult to raise, many families are selectively farming; therefore, the total area for the second crop in the commune is currently over 120 hectares. Given the unfavorable weather conditions, the commune advises farmers to regularly inspect their shrimp ponds; when they see signs of slow growth or abnormalities, they should harvest early to maximize profits. For areas where shrimp are developing well, farmers should take care of them and seek markets so that the shrimp can be sold at a higher price.

In the second crop of 2018, the entire Quynh Luu district released shrimp into approximately 300 out of 460 hectares of shrimp farming area. From around now until the end of September, farmers will have finished harvesting the second crop of shrimp.