The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is taking steps to expand its sustainable shrimp farming models in order to meet its production target of 76,000 tonnes this year. Kien Giang, known as one of the largest shrimp producers in the delta region, employs various models including industrial and semi-industrial farming, advanced extensive farming, shrimp-rice farming, and shrimp-forest farming.
Expansion of Industrial and Semi-Industrial Farming
This year, the province plans to allocate 3,100 hectares for industrial and semi-industrial shrimp farming, primarily in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle and U Minh Thuong district, an increase from the 2,590 hectares allocated last year.
Currently, farmers are breeding mostly white-legged shrimp under the industrial farming model on an area of 150 hectares, with over 1,000 hectares registered by companies.
Favorable Conditions and Advanced Techniques
Kien Giang Province has created favorable conditions for companies to collaborate with farmers, establishing shrimp production chains that ensure stable prices and improved incomes for farmers.
The province has also expanded the use of advanced farming techniques, including the use of nets to protect shrimp ponds from the sun, plastic sheets to cover pond beds, and fans and pumps to generate oxygen for the water.
These sustainable techniques have contributed to an increase in the province’s shrimp output.
Environmental Monitoring and Disease Control
To support sustainable farming practices, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with other relevant agencies, will closely monitor the environment, control shrimp diseases, and provide instruction on Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) to breeders.
Additionally, the province’s Animal Health and Husbandry Sub-department has set up inspection stations on main roads to monitor the quality of broodstock purchased from other provinces and cities.
Expanding Models and Ensuring Sustainability
Kien Giang Province aims to farm a total of 123,000 hectares of brackish water shrimp under various models this year. One notable model is the combination of rice cultivation in the rainy season and shrimp farming in the dry season, which promotes sustainability and helps the province adapt to climate change.
This integrated approach has proven successful, with farmers earning substantial incomes from raising giant river prawns alongside rice cultivation.
Promising Results and Future Plans
The province has achieved positive outcomes by implementing innovative models such as breeding spotted scat and black tiger shrimp in the same pond, offering coastal farmers a new opportunity. Successful trials have demonstrated higher profits and lower production costs, making this model appealing to local farmers.
Kien Giang Province plans to expand this approach to more farmers and transfer the technique to the Agriculture Extension Centre for implementation in other coastal districts. Additionally, the province is reproducing spotted scat artificially to ensure a steady supply of broodstock for farmers.
Kien Giang Province’s efforts to expand sustainable shrimp farming models will not only contribute to meeting production targets but also promote environmental preservation, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and enhance the overall resilience of the local shrimp industry.
