Overcoming the cold, Nghe An farmers have a successful shrimp crop.

After more than 3 months of focusing on raising, these days Mr. Hoang Xuan Tin's family in Quynh Bang commune (Quynh Luu)third shrimp harvestWith 5 hectares of pond area, many of which are raised in greenhouses and cement tanks, his family has harvested more than 10 tons of shrimp; after deducting expenses, he earned a profit of more than 500 million VND.

“Determining that shrimp farming in the third crop will be difficult due to the cold weather, the family stocked the shrimp at a low density, with 500-1,000 shrimp per 3,000 m2 pond. Compared to previous crops, this crop did not yield much shrimp due to the low density, but the selling price was much higher. Due to low farming, supply could not meet demand, so traders competed to buy,” said Mr. Tin.

The price of shrimp harvested in the third crop is high, with an average increase of 60,000 - 70,000 VND/kg compared to the main crop price. Photo: Viet Hung.

Entering the shrimp farming season (crop 1, crop 2),Quynh Luu farmersfully utilized the area to raise 460 hectares, however, entering the third crop due to unfavorable weather, the farming area has decreased to about 50 - 70 hectares. From the beginning of the 11th lunar month until now, shrimp farmers have been harvesting; however, unlike the first crop, this crop people are harvesting in the form of "trimming" to sell according to customer demand. Due to the reduced farming area, the shrimp of the third crop currently has a very high selling price.

According to traders purchasing at the pond, 100 shrimp/kg is currently priced at 150,000 VND (50,000 - 60,000 VND/kg higher than the price of shrimp in the first and second crops); 60 shrimp/kg is currently priced at 200,000 VND; 50 shrimp/kg is priced at 210,000 VND; 42 - 45 shrimp is priced at 250,000 VND/kg... On average, it has increased by about 60,000 VND/kg compared to shrimp raised in the main crop.

Grasping the market demand, especially before, during and after Tet, many households have boldly raised shrimp for the third crop to supply the market. However, people are also very cautious and have a lot of experience to successfully raise shrimp for the third crop.

Quynh Luu farmers harvest shrimp crop 3. Photo: Viet Hung

In 2020, shrimp farming households in Quynh Luu district and Hoang Mai town faced difficulties due to disease causing poor shrimp growth. At the beginning of the year, the prolonged Covid-19 epidemic also affected processing and export to other countries. However, overcoming difficulties, households invested in modern ponds, focusing on shrimp care according to the correct process. Thanks to that, in 2020, the shrimp harvest output of Quynh Luu district reached 2,500 tons, down 150 tons compared to 2019.

Mr. Bui Xuan Truc - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu district said that according to statistics in coastal communes, up to now, people have harvested about 70% of the shrimp farming area for the third crop, and about 30% of the area, equivalent to over 20 tons, is being taken care of by people to be sold in time for the Lunar New Year. In addition to focusing on shrimp care, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the district directed the communes to propagate to people to clean ponds and renovate harvested ponds so that after the Lunar New Year, they can start the new farming season of 2021.