Double benefits from fish farming - third rice crop
(Baonghean) -The movement of raising fish in the third crop of rice in the province in recent years has achieved very positive results. In addition to economic efficiency, improving the lives of farmers, it also increases soil fertility and reduces costs of land improvement and fertilizer for the next winter-spring crop. However, the results achieved are still not commensurate with the available potential.
High efficiency, low cost
Nghe An currently has about 7,000 hectares of rice fields that are suitable for raising fish and the third rice crop. In many fields in localities such as Hung Nguyen, Thanh Chuong, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, Quynh Luu... with low elevation and favorable water sources, after the summer-autumn crop ends, there are conditions for raising fish. In recent years, the third fish farming movement in the province has brought about quite high economic efficiency. The total area of fish and rice in the third crop in the whole province in 2012 reached about 3,000 hectares and the output reached nearly 3,000 tons. The average yield of the whole province reached about 8 quintals/ha, with a value of about 20 million VND/ha.
One of the localities with rapidly increasing 3rd crop fish farming area is Thanh Chuong district. In 2011, the area of the whole district was just over 500 hectares, but by 2012, this area had increased to over 700 hectares. In the 2013 plan, the total 3rd crop fish farming area of the district will reach about 1,200 hectares. The increased area means that people have clearly seen the economic efficiency that 3rd crop fish farming brings, so they are confident in production. Mr. Le Dinh Thanh, Head of the Department of Agriculture of Thanh Chuong district, said: Thanh Chuong district has had a 3rd crop fish farming movement for a long time, but in the last 2 years, this movement has developed more strongly. Because after completing the land conversion work, the system of embankments and canals has been renovated and upgraded relatively completely. Creating favorable conditions for people to develop 3rd crop fish farming.
Mr. Nguyen Thinh Thuy's family (Hamlet 1, Ngoc Son Commune) has over 5 sao of rice in the low-lying area. In 2012, after harvesting the summer-autumn rice, he released fish fry. After nearly 3 months, he harvested over 200 kg of fish, earning nearly 5 million VND. His family has been raising fish for the third crop for over 5 years now and every year the harvest is quite high. In the past 2 years, due to the re-planning of the fields, banks, and plots, he borrowed more fields from neighboring households to expand the farming area to 7 sao.
Mr. Thuy said: Raising fish in the third crop has many benefits. Firstly, after the harvest, the unused rice fields can be used, the family has a job, and increases income to improve their lives. Secondly, when the water is raised to raise grass fish, the stubble will decompose, both providing food for the fish and increasing humus for the soil. Raising fish in the third crop costs less, thanks to taking advantage of available food sources in nature. Seeing the effectiveness, this year many families have boldly joined together to rent rice fields to raise fish.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tinh's family in hamlet 10, Hung Long commune (Hung Nguyen) has more than 5 sao of low-lying rice fields, suitable for raising fish in the third crop. After the summer-autumn rice harvest, they release medium-sized fish, each weighing about 3-4 taels, traditional fish such as grass carp, bighead carp, bighead carp, and common carp. The fish are released from September and harvested in December. The efficiency of raising fish, especially raising fish in the third crop of Mrs. Tinh's family, is 2.5 times higher than growing rice in low-lying rice fields.
Mr. Hoang Thanh Truc's family, Dien Tan commune (Dien Chau) is building a dike.
prepare to release fish
Area reduction
Despite the great potential, the results of the third crop of rice fish farming in recent years have been very limited. The total area of the third crop of rice fish farming in the whole province in 2010 reached 4,500 hectares, in 2011 reached 5,000 hectares, by 2012 it was only 3,200 hectares. The plan for 2013 is that the total farming area of the whole province is about 3,500 hectares. Some localities with strong movements such as Dien Chau, Do Luong... have seen their areas decrease day by day. Localities with great potential such as Hung Nguyen, Yen Thanh, Nghi Loc... have seen their areas increase insignificantly. For example, Hung Nguyen district has a total water surface area for aquaculture of over 1,550 hectares. Compared to many other localities in the province, the potential for fish farming in Hung Nguyen is quite large. Ponds, lakes, and low-lying fields, flooded all year round, are very favorable for fisheries development. In addition, Hung Nguyen also has a large consumption belt market in Vinh City, so transportation and consumption do not cost much. However, the total area of fish farming in the third crop of the district is always low.
Compared to other districts in the province, Dien Chau used to be one of the localities with the third crop of fish farming movement. The district's third crop of fish farming plan in 2012 tended to decrease. In 2011, the whole district had about 700 hectares, with an output of about 752 tons. In 2012, the district's plan was only about 450 hectares. Ms. Phan Thi Thuan, an official of the district's Agriculture Department, said: The potential for third crop of fish farming in the district is very large, but due to many subjective and objective factors, a lot of area has not been used. In 2013, the district's third crop of fish farming area was about 320 hectares. The main reason is still the risk of natural disasters and the sharp drop in prices, making people not interested. For example, in the flood in 2011, more than 100 hectares of fish farming area were washed away by floodwaters. Besides, the price of fish has dropped from 40,000 VND/kg to more than 30,000 VND/kg, making households afraid of suffering losses.
As a resident with many years of experience in raising fish in the third crop, Mr. Hoang Thanh Truc (Hamlet 5, Dien Tan Commune, Dien Chau) shared: The economic efficiency of raising fish in the third crop is decreasing day by day. Fish are often affected by diseases and the quality of the fish is not high. This year, the family decided to reduce the area to 2 sao. As for Mr. Le Huu Linh's family (Hamlet 13, Dien Yen, Dien Chau) said: This year, my family only released 0.5 ha. Last year, the area was larger, but due to lack of labor, we did not have the conditions to raise more. Moreover, due to heavily polluted water sources, fish often suffer from diseases such as red spots, intestinal diseases, anchors, etc.
Field planning is the key issue
Mr. Tran Xuan Hoc, Head of the Aquaculture Sub-Department (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) said: Raising fish - raising rice in the third crop is a development direction that contributes to the innovation of agricultural production structure to increase income for farmers. Besides, raising fish in the third crop costs less and also increases soil fertility, reduces the cost of land improvement and fertilizer for the next winter-spring crop. However, the development of raising fish - raising rice in the third crop in our province is not commensurate with the potential of available water surface area.
The reason is that the planning of the fields is still small and fragmented; the infrastructure (dykes, culverts, irrigation ditches, drainage ditches, etc.) has not been invested. The care and management work during the farming process has not really been focused on by the people, so the effectiveness has not been fully promoted. Therefore, the expansion and development of the 3rd crop fish-rice farming area in some localities still faces many difficulties. Therefore, the first measure for people to have the conditions for production is to continue to consolidate land to create large fields, convenient for investing in the construction of farming facilities as well as in management and care. In addition, households in the farming area can unify and cooperate with each other in managing the dykes, canals, and barriers to facilitate water supply and drainage, prevent floods and water loss.
Mr. Phan Van Truong - Head of the Department of Agriculture of Hung Nguyen district said: The reason why aquaculture in Hung Nguyen is still fragmented is because in addition to the lack of investment from the people in livestock farming, the policy mechanisms, planning, and model expansion have not received due attention. Up to now, the investment capital for building concentrated farming areas and supporting people is somewhat limited, making the expansion of concentrated farming areas not high; not timely supporting people when suffering from natural disasters, storms, floods, crop failures, and epidemics. This is something that farmers are still concerned about. Mr. Truong also said that the province needs to have a plan, based on that plan to orient, if Hung Nguyen is determined to be a key area with advantages, then there needs to be investment in regional infrastructure, especially the system of embankments, drainage canals, and supply canals, to ensure stability.
Regarding the breed, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hoc added: Currently, in the province, there is 1 company, 7 fish farms and many other private fish farms in Dien Chau, Do Luong, Thanh Chuong districts... with excess capacity to produce fish breeds for the people. In recent years, thanks to the support of the gene fund of the Provincial People's Committee, the breeding of parent fish to produce breeds has been guaranteed in quality.
According to the recommendation of the Department of Aquaculture: When releasing fish, fish should be large, even, and healthy to minimize loss during the farming process. In addition to traditional fish species, it is necessary to boldly invest in introducing economically valuable species such as: perch, square-headed perch, giant freshwater prawn... to increase economic value per unit area. During the farming process, in addition to available natural food sources, it is necessary to supplement concentrated food such as: rice bran, tapioca flour, corn flour..., green food: duckweed, grass, taro leaves, cassava leaves... to help fish grow quickly and give high productivity.
Raising fish in the third crop after two rice crops is a potential that needs to be exploited. The economic and environmental benefits have been confirmed, so the development of raising fish in the third crop needs to be invested and paid more attention. Authorities at all levels must pay attention to planning and directing the production of fish in the third crop as a main crop and need to have policies to support farmers, strengthen the dissemination of science and technology so that raising fish in the third crop can develop into a profession with high and stable income. Establishing outlets for product consumption and creating a stable market for farmers is an important issue because it directly affects the economic efficiency of the production season.
Article and photos: Pham Bang
