Raising tra and basa has long been a tradition in the Mekong River Delta and become a sector with significant contribution to the socio-economic development, in general and the fishery sector of the Mekong River Delta, in particular.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), tra and basa are making a bright point for the picture of Vietnam’s export. The output of tra and basa in the Mekong River Delta accounts for more than 98 percent of the catfish output nationwide and tops the list of freshwater fish for export. In 2008, with the highest growth rate among aquatic products for export, 77 percent in terms of volume and 52 percent in terms of value against the same period last year, export turn-over of tra and basa in the first nine months exceeds US$1 billion.
According to recent statistics of An Giang Fisheries Association (AFA) and Mekong River Delta Association of Fisheries, as of the end of October 2008, the Mekong River Delta has 5,102 hectares of ponds for fish raising (an increase of 11 percent compared to 2007), the output of fish exceeds one million tones, over 535,000 tonnes get exported to 117 countries and territories (the EU makes up 48 percent market share), and the export turn-over reaches US$1,250 billion. An Giang has 1,600 hectares of ponds for fish growing. The output as of the end of October 2008 reaches 282,000 tonnes, up 30 percent. Export turn-over reaches US$347 million, up 52.3 percent in terms of volume and 24.8 percent in terms of turn-over.
Though the tra and basa growing and processing industry of the Mekong River Delta is undergoing fast growth, the lack of a comprehensive plan makes this industry spontaneous, inter-sector co-operation to boost production is not tight enough, an inter-lapping situation among economic sectors still exist, market forecast and communication of functional organs to producers are not timely enough, etc.
Stemming from mentioned above reasons, the MARD has approved the plan for producing and consuming tra and basa in the Mekong River Delta until 2010 with orientation to 2020 in order to seek for positive solutions for tra and basa. According to the plan, the area for growing tra and basa for export will be developed in such water areas with good growing environment as Tien River and Hau River. Some localities like An Giang, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Tien Giang, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh will be selected as the area for producing seed fish and constructing processing factories.
The plan also sets a target that by 2010, the fish growing area of the Mekong River Delta will reach 8,600 hectares, and by 2020, 13,000 hectares with the corresponding production output of 1.25 million tones and 1.85 million tones. The export turn-over is estimated to witness an average increase of 5.9 percent per annum, equivalent to US$1.5 billion in 2010 and up to US$2.3 billion in 2020.
To reach the above target, it is necessary that the Mekong River Delta develop 2,121 centers for producing seed fish; construct 68 factories for fish processing with a total capacity of 798,740 tonnes by 2010. If these targets are met, stable jobs and income will be generated for 46,840 direct labourers and US$600 million will be contributed to the total export value as estimated for the year of 2010.
Thao Nguyen
Vietnamese
