CÀ MAU — The southernmost province of Cà Mau over the next five years plans to raise the incomes of workers at craft villages that make fishing nets, repair fishing boats, and produce dried sea shrimp and fish.

Expansion of fishing logistics services and ice production is also part of the plan for the coastal craft villages, according to a report in Tin Tức (News) newspaper.

From now to 2017, Cà Mau will focus on weaving and repairing of fishing nets and other fishing tools, an activity that has been part of the area for hundreds of years.

However, the work has always operated on a small-scale without any overall plan.

The 2,500 people who knit and repair fishing nets and tools have low  incomes, under an average of VNĐ3 million (US$136) a month.  

Cà Mau also has more than 50 establishments that make various kinds of dried sea shrimp and fish and provide jobs for 1,200 labourers.

Under the 2016-2021 plan, the province aims to increase the number of workers who make dried sea shrimp and fish to 3,000 by the end of 2017.

By then, the average income of workers is expected to reach VNĐ4 million ($180).

In 2017, the province will set up two co-operatives for dried shrimp and fish producers.

Cà Mau has several well-known dried shrimp and fish products, including Rạch Gốc dried shrimp, dried cream fish and dried anchovies.

Rạch Gốc dried shrimp was granted an official brand name by the National Office of Intellectual Property.

The Rạch Gốc Dried Shrimp Village in Ngọc Hiển District produces dried shrimp from sea and fresh-water shrimp. The district has about 25 establishments that produce 25-30 tonnes of dried shrimp a month.

The establishments, which consume about 20 per cent of the district’s shrimp output, provide jobs for about 250 labourers.

In Trần Văn Thời, U Minh and Phú Tân districts, about 300 families make dried cream fish.

The price of dried cream fish is VNĐ200,000-250,000 a kilo. Producers earn profits of VNĐ20,000-25,000 a kilo. — VNS