Shrimp farming in Hung Hoa: Difficulties in many aspects

(Baonghean) - In previous years, shrimp farming was identified as a profession that would enrich farmers in Hung Hoa commune (Vinh city), and was enthusiastically and carefully invested in by the people. But now the "momentum" for preparing for shrimp farming in this locality is no longer the same as before...

Mr. Tran Van Quy - Phong Thuan 1 hamlet, Hung Hoa commune confided: "My family has 0.5 hectares of shrimp farming. In previous years, at the beginning of a new farming season, every household excitedly invested and focused on developing the shrimp in the best conditions. However, this year is different. Since the decision to reclaim agricultural land in the Hung Hoa shrimp farming area to serve a number of projects in the area, people have not felt secure in investing in shrimp farming. Currently, the land of each shrimp farming household has been measured and the compensation level has been specifically calculated, but the investor has not yet compensated the people.

Shrimp pond in Hung Hoa.

Therefore, my family as well as hundreds of shrimp farming households in the commune are hesitant, lack enthusiasm, not interested in long-term investment, so the pond renovation stage is simpler than previous years, not wanting to invest in machinery for shrimp farming because of the fear that while doing a land acquisition project, people will have to suffer losses. "We recommend that projects quickly recover land and compensate people. If the land has not been recovered, people must be informed when it will be recovered, for example, in one or two years, so that people can determine their mindset, feel secure in production, and consider appropriate investments" - Mr. Quy was upset.

For this reason, farmers invest simply and carelessly, intensive farming households and extensive farming households lack investment and care, while shrimp is a difficult species to raise, very sensitive to the surrounding environment... Without careful investment and care, it is feared that diseases will be very difficult to control.

Mr. Dinh Van Thang - Chairman of Agricultural Cooperative 2 of Hung Hoa commune said: The whole Hung Hoa commune has 132 hectares of shrimp farming area, of which Agricultural Cooperative 2 alone has 120 hectares. Entering the 2012 farming season, Hung Hoa shrimp farmers faced many difficulties. In previous years, shrimp always ranked number 1 in the local economic development. Currently, the land has been assigned to the owner but it is not known when the land will be reclaimed?

In addition, this year's weather conditions are not favorable, with prolonged cold and heavy rains that sweeten the water from the river mouth. Shrimp farmers have been waiting for one tide after another but have not been able to get water. The cooperative and the people have found ways to push fresh water to get salt water below. If the water intake time is prolonged, it will be disadvantageous for Hung Hoa shrimp farmers, because after the Tet holiday, the water at Lam river mouth is almost fresh water. The water source does not ensure the salinity to be replaced and treated, forcing people to use old water in the pond to treat it again - to continue using it to raise the new crop. This is also unfavorable. Moreover, the demand for capital to invest in shrimp farming is very large, while borrowing from banks is difficult.

At the same time last year, Hung Hoa people had released shrimp for 1 month, but this year due to the above reasons, people have not released yet. The agricultural cooperative of 2 communes of Hung Hoa directed people to make efforts to invest within their conditions. In previous years, they raised 2 crops/year, but this year they only raised 1 crop to be sure, so people are not in a hurry to raise shrimp, and plan to release shrimp in early April. The cooperative has organized a meeting with people to discuss the most optimal options for this crop.

At the same time, training on disease environment management, pond renovation and repair and upgrading of the power grid system for safe shrimp farming was provided. The cooperative directly worked with the Vinh City Agricultural Bank, requesting the bank to create conditions for Hung Hoa shrimp farmers to borrow capital for aquaculture. The bank has accepted and will conduct an appraisal of each household's loan project. However, the disbursement level depends on the value of the collateral and the feasibility of each project.

Quynh Lan