SÓC TRĂNG – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vũ Văn Tám has instructed the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Sóc Trăng to expand its shrimp breeding models that have proved successful.  

On a trip to survey brackish water shrimp farming in the province on Thursday, Tám said the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development should review three major issues in shrimp farming: use of technology, revamp of production and credit policies.

"Co-operation between all stake holders in shrimp farming is vital since it helps protect the environment and create conditions for farmers to benefit from credit and insurance policies," he said.  

The ministry would urge relevant agencies to draft policies that enable shrimp farmers to obtain loans, he said.

According to Nguyễn Văn Nhiệm, chairman of the Mỹ Thanh Shrimp Breeders Association in Trần Đề District, the association’s members farm more than 2,000ha. 

They have recently adopted new farming methods like raising tilapia and sea bass in shrimp ponds, farming fewer shrimp and using probiotics, obtaining successful results.

Hứa Thành Hưng, a member, said he had 24 shrimp ponds this year and had so far harvested 162 tonnes, earning a profit of nearly 11.2 billion (US$510,000).

He attributed the success to the increased number of ponds he has to store water for the shrimp ponds as well as breeding of sea bass along with shrimp.

Hai Hoàng, another member, said his ponds had a low density of 30-50 shrimps per square metre and also tilapia. As a result, of his 30 ponds, only one suffered a loss, he said.   

However, Nhiệm said the members were breeding shrimp on only a fifth of their more than 2,000ha this year because of disease outbreaks and resultant losses in previous years.

Since mid-May it has been raining in Sóc Trăng and farmers have begun to breed more shrimp in Mỹ Xuyên and Vĩnh Châu districts, according to the province’s Fisheries Sub-department.

Sóc Trăng, one of the delta’s leading shrimp farming provinces, plans to raise the crustacean in around 45,500ha of ponds this year, with black tiger shrimp and white-legged shrimp farmed in roughly equal areas.

The estimated output is 90,000 tonnes.

The shrimp farming season usually lasts until September. – VNS