Nghe An farmers 'struggle' to keep shrimps cool

Mr. Nguyen Van Hao invested in round tanks lined with tarpaulin and a greenhouse to raise shrimp on sand in Nghi Tien commune (Nghi Loc). Photo: Thanh Phuc

These days, when the temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius, Mr. Nguyen Van Hao - a shrimp farmer in Hai Don sandbank, Bac Thang hamlet, Nghi Tien commune (Nghi Loc) mobilizes workers to stay at the shrimp farm to monitor and deploy measures.Heat protection measures for shrimp.On an area of ​​5,000 m²Including 4 ponds, planted 2 months ago, the shrimp have reached a weight of 80-90 shrimp/kg, ready to be sold to the market.

At the beginning of the season, the weather was erratic and there was unseasonal rain, making it difficult for Mr. Hao to take care of and prevent diseases for the shrimp. Now that the shrimp are about to be harvested, the heat is prolonged and the temperature is rising, so Mr. Hao has to implement a series of measures to protect the shrimp.

Supplementing nutrition for farmed shrimp during hot days. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Nguyen Van Hao said: “The four brothers in the farm take turns to monitor the health of the shrimp. Pump water for the shrimp when the weather is cool, operate the aeration system and use biological products to ensure the pond environment for the shrimp. At the same time, add vitamins, minerals... to increase the shrimp's resistance. In ponds with high density, we will "select" and sell them first, to reduce the pond density, helping the shrimp grow and develop well."

In recent years, to improve the pond environment, shrimp farming households on sand in Nghi Tien commune (Nghi Loc) in addition to investing in building cement tanks, installing roofs and cooling systems, many households have switched to round ponds with floating bottoms in net houses. With this farming model, the pond walls are designed vertically, the area exposed to sunlight is the lowest and especially the water source is always circulating, controlling the oxygen content in the pond, so it is considered a very effective measure to prevent heat for shrimp.

Technical staff of Hoa Phat shrimp farm in Dien Kim commune (Dien Chau) monitor the growth of shrimp during the hot days. Photo: Thanh Phuc

With 7 ponds on an area of ​​1.1 hectares, in recent days, as the temperature has continuously increased, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa - owner of Hoa Phat shrimp farm in Xuan Chau hamlet, Dien Kim commune (Dien Chau) has assigned workers to be on duty at the farm, assigning each person to be in charge of the ponds, and regularly monitoring shrimp fluctuations.

Mr. Hoa said: “Shrimp are low-level animals, poikilothermic, so heat has a great impact on the growth process of shrimp, shrimp are susceptible to disease. In the hot season, the water temperature increases above 32 degrees Celsius, shrimp are less active, stop eating and bury themselves in the mud, so shrimp are very susceptible to inhaling toxic gases and getting algae and black gill disease.

Therefore,shrimp care in hot seasonIt is important to note: Provide enough water and maintain the water level in the pond above 1.4m; continuously use aerators and water fans to help stir the water, avoiding thermal stratification in the pond; disinfect the pond with effervescent tablets to increase the shrimp's resistance.

For many high-density farming areas, shrimp pond owners will harvest one batch in advance to reduce density and create a ventilated environment for the pond during extremely hot days. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Recently, due to erratic weather, many shrimp farming areas of Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Hoang Mai died, causing great losses to farmers. After renovating ponds and lagoons, many households have started to plant new crops. The weather is at its peak, so farmers are also considering carefully.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tu - a householdshrimp farming in Quynh Loc(Hoang Mai Town) said: “We have just planted the third batch of shrimp for this crop after 2 ponds were damaged by shrimp infected with white spot and hepatopancreas disease. This planting batch coincides with the period of intense heat, so the stocking density has been reduced; at the same time, we have strengthened measures to prevent heat and increase shrimp resistance.”

According to forecasts, the peak heat wave in Nghe An will last longer, so farmers need to proactively take measures to protect shrimp from the sun, heat, and prevent diseases. In particular, focus on ensuring the temperature of the farming environment is within the allowable range; change and supplement the diet for livestock to suit the weather; strictly implement disease prevention measures.

Currently, many shrimp farming households in Quynh Luu district, Hoang Mai town have invested and applied high technology in shrimp farming. Therefore, the hot season is no longer an obstacle when the ponds are operated by modern machinery and equipment, ensuring the ideal environment and temperature for shrimp to grow. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of DepartmentDepartment of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary MedicineThe province said: “Currently entering the peak of hot weather, the outdoor temperature is always high, which can easily disrupt the environment, reduce the resistance of livestock, and cause disease. Therefore, farmers need to supply enough water to the pond to cool the shrimp, increase resistance by adding minerals, intestinal microorganisms, beta glucan, vitamins, etc.; invest in a cover system to reduce the direct impact of high outdoor temperatures; apply measures such as aeration and water fans to limit temperature stratification in the pond, reduce the growth and development of algae; regularly observe the pond to monitor the development of shrimp and promptly handle any unusual phenomena. In particular, when detecting shrimp infected with disease or unusual deaths, it is necessary to immediately report to the commune veterinary and the relevant authorities for thorough handling.”