Promoting safe aquaculture

(Baonghean) - Nghe An is a province with a large potential area for aquaculture, with over 35 thousand hectares. Currently, the whole province has built 7 shrimp farming areas ensuring biological safety (ATSH), with an area of ​​240 hectares.

Many models are replicated

In recent times, Nghe An Department of Agriculture has coordinated with localities to promote propaganda and guidance for farmers, production and business establishments. Thanks to that, up to now, the use of banned substances in aquaculture and the abuse of antibiotics to prevent and treat diseases in aquatic species has decreased significantly.

Many households have developed safe aquaculture models, without using banned substances or antibiotics to prevent and treat diseases in shrimp and fish. Mr. Ho Dinh Thang's family (Chi Thanh hamlet, Quynh Bang commune, Quynh Luu) has many years of experience in shrimp farming. Shrimp is a difficult species to raise and is often affected by diseases. To overcome the disease situation in shrimp and improve production efficiency, Mr. Thang has participated in training courses of the district's Agricultural Extension Station. Since 2010, he has switched to a white-leg shrimp farming model following the ATSH process, limiting the use of antibiotics and chemicals on an area of ​​nearly 1.3 hectares.

Farmers in Quynh Bang commune (Quynh Luu) check shrimp before releasing them for farming.

With a farming process that applies 100% biological products in pond renovation and treatment and the entire farming process. Shrimp seeds are taken from reputable facilities, quarantined and released according to the seasonal schedule of the district and province. In addition, he also uses some products mixed into food to increase the resistance of shrimp. During the care and management process, he also periodically uses products to clean the environment and prevent diseases for shrimp; always proactively supply water, change during the farming process. Thanks to that, his family's ATSH shrimp farming model brings high efficiency.

Mr. Thang said: Shrimp farming according to the ATSH process not only limits diseases, ensures environmental safety but also creates clean products. With this farming process, the survival rate of shrimp is over 90%, the yield reaches nearly 15 tons/ha (about 10% higher than the traditional farming process). Shrimp raised using ATSH should cost less on drugs to treat diseases, limit diseases so the economic efficiency is higher. In 2016, on an area of ​​1.3 ha, he earned over 1.1 billion VND.

Currently, in Quynh Luu district, there are 2,200 hectares of aquaculture, of which 530 hectares are for biosafety farming; concentrated in the communes of Quynh Luong, An Hoa, and Quynh Bang. In Dien Chau district, in 2016, the area for biosafety aquaculture reached 23 hectares, out of a total of 2,316 hectares. Many households participate in the model of raising whiteleg shrimp, sea bass, red snapper, and tilapia in the biosafety direction. Up to now, the whole province has built 7 biosafety shrimp farming areas, with an area of ​​240 hectares and two diversified farming areas (67 hectares). In particular, there are some farming areas that have done a good job of managing banned substances and antibiotics such as: Quynh Di, Quynh Xuan (Hoang Mai town), Quynh Bang, Quynh Thanh (Quynh Luu), Dien Trung, Dien Van (Dien Chau).

To achieve that result, in recent times, the Agriculture sector has implemented many synchronous and drastic solutions such as: Checking the business conditions of seeds, feed, veterinary drugs at facilities in the districts. Penalizing organizations and individuals trading in aquaculture materials that do not ensure quality and confiscating and destroying violating batches of goods. In addition, promoting propaganda and raising people's awareness of the harmful effects of banned substances and antibiotic abuse on public health and the living environment. In the past 3 years, 93 training courses have been organized on the Law on Fisheries, the Law on Product Quality, the Law on Food Safety; trading and using materials in aquaculture, aquaculture (VietGAP)...

Thanks to that, the awareness of households in using biological products, drugs, and chemicals has been raised, 635 households have signed a commitment not to use antibiotics in shrimp farming. Currently, the number of households implementing closed-circulation organic shrimp farming models and models using tilapia, limiting white spot disease, acute liver and pancreas... is being replicated.

Need to plan safe farming areas

Good shrimp season in Quynh Luu. Photo: QL

Currently, the area of ​​safe aquaculture is still small compared to the actual aquaculture potential of localities.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Hung - Head of Quynh Luu Agricultural Extension Station said: Although aquaculture following ATSH process limits diseases, has less risks in production, and has more stable productivity. However, there are still many limitations such as: Shrimp prices are not stable, not different from other normal shrimp, because the origin has not been proven.

On the other hand, there are many companies on the market that provide biological products and preparations for food, treatment, disease prevention, etc., making it difficult for people to choose. Quynh Luu district plans to increase the area of ​​​​ATSH aquaculture by 30% annually compared to the previous year; striving for 100% ATSH shrimp farming by 2020. However, to expand the area of ​​​​safe aquaculture, it is necessary to re-plan the farming area, and households need to be granted ATSH farming certificates, ensuring stable and competitive prices, etc.

Discussing solutions to improve the effectiveness of aquaculture in the direction of ATSH in the coming time, Mr. Nguyen Quy Linh - Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center said: Propaganda work, raising awareness for farmers, production units, and trading of pharmaceutical and chemical products in aquaculture will continue to be promoted.

At the same time, the production and trading facilities for aquaculture materials in the area are required to voluntarily sign a commitment not to produce or trade banned substances and drugs and chemicals of unknown origin. In addition, the center will organize training courses on technical processes for farming, disease prevention and farming of white-leg shrimp without using antibiotics, limiting chemicals to farming areas. In addition, strengthen coordination with departments, branches and localities to strengthen inspection and examination of farming and trading facilities for materials in the area. Continue to develop models for raising saltwater shrimp, brackish water shrimp and tilapia according to VietGAP procedures.

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