Aquaculture in Nghe An faces many difficulties
In the context of increasingly strong climate change and unusual weather, aquaculture is facing many difficulties and challenges...
Applying technology to production
Mr. Ho Nghia Quy in Dong Tam hamlet, Quynh Bang commune (Quynh Luu) has been involved in shrimp farming for more than 20 years. With the climate characteristics of Nghe An, shrimp farming in the main season often encounters extremely hot weather. Although he has applied solutions to combat the heat such as regulating the water level in the pond to prevent the water from getting hot, increasing water fans, and at the same time, using biological products to decompose organic matter and limit algae growth, shrimp farming in the main season is still ineffective.
In early 2023, his family invested 150 million VND to build a 250m2 net house.2to raise shrimp. In the house covered by a blue net, sunlight does not shine directly on the water surface. In addition, he built many cement tanks and invested in installing a high-tech shrimp farming system, raising shrimp in many stages.
“Investing in building a net house not only makes it convenient to raise shrimp in the hot summer but is also suitable for the low temperature winter, so each year we can raise 3-4 batches of shrimp, giving high productivity,” Mr. Quy shared.
Not only Mr. Quy's household in Quynh Bang commune, but many other shrimp pond owners in Quynh Luu, Dien Chau districts and Hoang Mai town... also invest in indoor shrimp farming, applying high technology, to minimize disease risks, increase crops and stock at high density... bringing much higher economic efficiency than raising shrimp in outdoor ponds...
According to the report of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Control, by September 2024, the whole province had stocked 21,000 hectares of aquatic products, reaching 96.49% of the plan. Of which, freshwater farming was more than 19.4 thousand hectares; brackish water farming was 1,805 hectares, shrimp alone was 1,576 hectares. The estimated harvest output was 36,479 tons (reaching 52.11% of the plan and equal to 103.96% compared to the same period in 2023). Freshwater farming harvested 30,162 tons, brackish water farming 6,317 tons (shrimp 4,439 tons). Production and rearing of 1.539 billion shrimp fry, and 518 million fish fry of all kinds.
Notably, commercial shrimp farming, especially white-leg shrimp, is increasingly invested in the direction of intensive farming, increasing crops, and increasing productivity. The application of advanced technical processes and high technology in farming is increasingly concerned and has achieved good results.
Farmers have increasingly paid attention to applying advanced technical processes, applying high technology and digital transformation to farming and have made good developments, specifically: Biotechnology, multi-stage farming, circulating farming... Farmers have combined with investment in upgrading infrastructure for both farming areas and each farming facility (building a system of closed houses, floating cages with roofs to stabilize temperature, limit the spread of pathogens and other impacts affecting shrimp growth,...).
Currently, in the province, there are 81 facilities applying the multi-stage shrimp farming model, with an area of 136.75 hectares (of which, there are 21 facilities raising shrimp in floating cages with 35.4 hectares) to help increase productivity and product quality. Many large facilities have installed camera equipment, updated data on computer systems to monitor the shrimp farming process...
Among the forms of freshwater aquaculture, cage farming on rivers, lakes, irrigation dams, and hydroelectric power plants has received strong investment from people, from technology to farming objects. With the advantage of taking advantage of natural food sources, clean water sources, limiting diseases, bringing high efficiency to farmers. The number of cages in the whole province in the first 6 months of 2024 reached 2,200 cages, an increase of 27 cages compared to 2023.
Localities with strong development of cage fish farming include: Tuong Duong, Que Phong, Quy Hop, Quy Chau, Tan Ky, Con Cuong... All cages are invested and installed with improved technology (PE plastic cage frame, galvanized iron pipe and net), size from 50 m3or more.
There are many difficulties
However, aquaculture in Nghe An still has many problems and challenges. Right from the beginning of the farming season, there was a phenomenon of early shrimp death, with unknown causes at many stages and farming days, which affected the investment psychology of the people. The price of input materials increased; the use of many drugs, chemicals, and biological products to prevent and treat diseases increased production costs. Shrimp ponds are mainly short-term, harvested in small sizes, and sold at low prices. Some ponds develop slowly, leading to a longer farming time.
Some households have not strictly followed the disease treatment and prevention process. Disinfection and destruction of intermediate animals have not been focused on, and farming seasons have not been interrupted according to the industry's seasonal calendar; Infrastructure has degraded, some farming areas have silted up the supply canal system and do not have separate supply and drainage canals.
Besides, in the province, production linkage has been initially formed but at separate steps, not yet forming linkage according to value chain; there are no enterprises or cooperatives acting as bridges of the entire value chain.
The application of support policies for chain development is still confusing and difficult to implement, so economic sectors have not yet accessed preferential capital sources. Freshwater aquaculture is mainly farming traditional fish species, while high-value aquaculture species are only developed on a small scale...
To complete the 2024 plan goals, localities and competent authorities need to continue to strengthen the dissemination and guidance of the 2017 Fisheries Law and laws and documents related to aquaculture; Effectively implement environmental monitoring and warning work, promptly notify farmers to proactively respond to adverse environmental conditions, in order to minimize damage in shrimp farming; Effectively implement the policy to support the development of intensive white-leg shrimp farming models applying new technologies according to Resolution 18/2021/NQ-HDND dated December 9, 2021; Step up the inspection and examination of the quality of aquatic breeds and feed, and aquaculture environmental treatment products.
In addition, it is necessary to strictly handle organizations and individuals who violate regulations; Strengthen the implementation of instructions for organizations and individuals to register for certificates of aquaculture in cages and rafts, and key aquaculture subjects.
Implement well the work of preventing and controlling aquatic diseases; quarantine shrimp seeds transported out of the province and control shrimp seeds transported within the province and especially implement well the work of trade promotion, research, and forecasting the market for aquatic product consumption; Pay attention to organizing the introduction of aquatic products in markets inside and outside the province...
