Aquaculture in Nghe An faces many difficulties.
In the context of increasingly severe climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, the aquaculture industry is facing many difficulties and challenges...
Applying technology to production
Mr. Ho Nghia Quy, residing in Dong Tam hamlet, Quynh Bang commune (Quynh Luu district), has been involved in shrimp farming for over 20 years. Due to Nghe An's climate, the main shrimp farming season often faces intense heat. Despite implementing solutions to combat the heat, such as raising the water level in ponds to prevent overheating, increasing aeration, and using biological products to decompose organic matter and inhibit algae growth, the main shrimp farming season remains ineffective.
In early 2023, his family invested 150 million VND to build a 250m² greenhouse.2to raise shrimp. Inside the house, which is covered with blue netting, sunlight does not shine directly onto the water surface. In addition, he built many cement tanks and invested in installing a high-tech shrimp farming system, raising shrimp in multiple stages.
"Investing in building net houses not only allows for favorable shrimp farming conditions during the hot summer months but is also suitable for the cold winter months. Therefore, it's possible to raise 3-4 batches of shrimp per year, yielding high productivity," Mr. Quy shared.
It's not just Mr. Quy's household in Quynh Bang commune; many other shrimp farm owners in Quynh Luu, Dien Chau districts and Hoang Mai town... are also investing in indoor shrimp farming, applying high technology to minimize disease risks, increase crop yields, and raise shrimp at high densities... resulting in significantly higher economic efficiency compared to open pond shrimp farming.
According to the report of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Inspection Department, as of September 2024, 21,000 hectares of aquaculture had been stocked throughout the province, reaching 96.49% of the plan. Of this, freshwater aquaculture accounted for over 19,400 hectares; brackish water aquaculture accounted for 1,805 hectares, with shrimp farming accounting for 1,576 hectares. The estimated harvest reached 36,479 tons (52.11% of the plan and 103.96% compared to the same period in 2023). Freshwater aquaculture yielded 30,162 tons, brackish water aquaculture yielded 6,317 tons (4,439 tons of shrimp). Production and rearing of shrimp larvae reached 1.539 billion, and various fish larvae reached 518 million.
Notably, commercial shrimp farming, especially whiteleg shrimp farming, is increasingly being invested in with a focus on intensive farming, multiple cropping cycles, and increased productivity. The application of advanced technical processes and high technology in farming is receiving increasing attention and achieving positive results.
Farmers have increasingly adopted advanced technical processes, high technology, and digital transformation in aquaculture, showing significant progress, specifically in areas such as biotechnology, multi-stage farming, and recirculating aquaculture. They have also invested in upgrading infrastructure in both the farming areas and individual farms (building enclosed systems, floating cages with roofs to stabilize temperature, limit disease spread, and mitigate other factors affecting shrimp growth, etc.).
Currently, 81 establishments in the province have adopted the multi-stage shrimp farming model, covering an area of 136.75 hectares (including 21 establishments raising shrimp in floating cages with 35.4 hectares), helping to increase productivity and product quality. Many large establishments have installed cameras and updated data on computer systems to monitor the shrimp farming process…
Among freshwater aquaculture methods, cage farming on rivers, lakes, and irrigation and hydroelectric dams is attracting significant investment from farmers, both in technology and species selection. Its advantages include utilizing natural food sources and clean water, minimizing disease outbreaks, and yielding high returns for farmers. In the first six months of 2024, the total number of cages in the province reached 2,200, an increase of 27 cages compared to 2023.
Localities with thriving cage fish farming include: Tuong Duong, Que Phong, Quy Hop, Quy Chau, Tan Ky, Con Cuong... The cages are all equipped with improved technology (frames made of PE plastic, galvanized iron pipes and nets), with sizes starting from 50 m².3or more.
There are still many difficulties.
However, aquaculture in Nghe An still faces many shortcomings and challenges. From the beginning of the farming season, there have been instances of early shrimp mortality for unknown reasons at various stages and days of cultivation, affecting the investment mindset of local people. The price of input materials has increased; the use of many drugs, chemicals, and biological products for disease prevention and treatment has increased production costs. Most shrimp ponds are short-term, resulting in small-sized shrimp that fetch low prices. Some ponds experience slow growth, leading to prolonged farming periods.
Some farmers have not strictly adhered to disease control and prevention procedures. Disinfection and the elimination of intermediate animals have not been given sufficient attention, and farming seasons have not been interrupted according to the schedule announced by the industry; infrastructure is deteriorating, and in some farming areas, the supply canal system has become silted up and there are no separate supply and drainage canals.
In addition, production linkages have begun to form in the province, but they are still in the form of individual units and have not yet formed value chain linkages; there are no enterprises or cooperatives acting as bridges for the entire value chain.
The implementation of policies supporting the development of value chains still faces many difficulties and obstacles, resulting in a lack of access to preferential capital for various economic sectors. Freshwater aquaculture primarily focuses on traditional fish species, while high-value economic species are only being developed on a small scale...
To achieve the 2024 plan targets, localities and relevant agencies need to continue strengthening the dissemination and guidance of the 2017 Fisheries Law and other laws and documents related to aquaculture; effectively implement environmental monitoring and warning systems, promptly notifying farmers to proactively respond to adverse environmental conditions, thereby minimizing losses in shrimp farming; effectively implement the policy supporting the construction of intensive whiteleg shrimp farming models applying new technologies according to Resolution 18/2021/NQ-HĐND dated December 9, 2021; and strengthen inspection and quality control of aquaculture seeds, feed, and environmental treatment products for aquaculture.
In addition, it is necessary to strictly handle organizations and individuals who violate regulations; strengthen the implementation of guidance for organizations and individuals registering for certificates of aquaculture in cages and rafts, focusing on key aquaculture species.
Effectively implement disease prevention and control measures for aquatic animals; conduct quarantine of shrimp larvae transported out of the province and control shrimp larvae transported within the province; and especially, effectively carry out trade promotion, research, and forecasting of the market for aquatic products; pay attention to organizing the introduction of aquatic products to markets inside and outside the province...
