Developing Garden and Fisheries Economies

 

In the area of ​​fisheries, the proportion of aquaculture now accounts for 73 percent of production value. Aquaculture area in 2013 reached 44,081 hectares (up 1,800 hectares compared with 2005), production reached 237.153 tonnes (up nearly 174,000 tonnes compared with 2005). The main seafood products of the province are shrimp, clams, catfish. According to Mr Doan Van Danh, Director of Ben Tre provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province now has 12 intensive catfish farmings certified GlobalGAP with the total area of ​​182 hectares, 4 farms certified ASC, 2 farms achieving VietGAP certification and one farm achieving Aqua GAP certification.

 

In the fisheries sector, the number of offshore fishing vessels increased significantly, particularly in 2013 the number off vessels are 1,728, up more than 550 ships compared with 2008; mining production in 2013 reached 154,000 tonnes, up more than 64,000 tonnes over 2008. Management and production have created more favorable conditions for fishermen to upgrade facilities as well as offshore fishing methods, in order to increase fishing efficiency, protect aquatic resources and ensure security and order in the sea. Programmes, planning projects and infrastructure investment projects to serve seafood economic development are implemented quite well and actively promoted efficiency. Many projects continue to invest in upgrading and expanding to meet requirements of marine economic development of the province.

 

Regarding the garden economic development, the proportion of perennial crops (coconut, cocoa and fruits) accounted for 55 percent of the agricultural production value in the province. In 2013, the area of ​​perennial plants reached about 90,000 hectares (up more than 12,800 hectares compared with 2005); production reached 804,000 tonnes (up more than 165,000 tonnes compared with 2005). The province also concentrated on stimulating fruit trees such as green pomelo, durian, mangosteen, rambutan, longan etc; some of them have granted certification of GAP standard and reached difficult markets like Europe and America. So far, the province has 11 production models receiving GAP certification, including 4 models with GlobalGAP standards and 7 models with VietGAP standards. In Ben Tre, there has about 6,000 hectares of cocoa; in which there are 4 businesses and 1,417 cocoa farmers certified UTZ standards (equivalent to GlobalGAP), creating foundation for the development of organic cocoa.

 

With achievements in garden economic and fisheries economic development, in the economic development strategy by 2020, Ben Tre continued investing in these two strengths along with developing the processing industry. The province considered these industries their advantages to create a breakthrough in the provincial economic transition and development.

 

Specifically for garden economics, Ben Tre oriented to expand in a large scale, build a key value chain from production, harvesting, storage and processing to consumption. The province also focused on increasing the productivity of coconut, sticking production to processing, enhancing the added value of coconut. Accordingly, the province continued to intercrop cocoa in 10,000 hectares of coconut; renovate ineffective coconut garden in the phase 2013-2016 and support growing prawn in coconut garden to raise income for coconut farmers.

 

Along with coconut, Ben Tre invested in intensive fruit regions oriented agricultural practices (GAP) and built some fruit brands of the province. Mr Danh said the province right now is focusing on new fruits with the aim of creating products with high productivity, quality and competitiveness to meet requirements of the market and to improve garden economic efficiency and gardeners’ income. In addition, the province also concentrates on producing various kinds of ornamental plants with high quality, no diseases as well as promoting new ornamental plants of high economic value to expand the export market.

 

For fisheries economy, the province encourages expanding industrial farms and semi-industrial ones in the planning area; applying modern technology and proper farming processes (GAP) according to international standards; building and expanding agricultural - fishery models in the inefficient soil. In addition, the province will actively restructure coastal fishing vessels, switch to large-capacity vessels for offshore operations; implement policies to support offshore fishermen effectively and safely; encourage the development of offshore fishing operations, improve and expand the model of offshore fishing groups. In addition to enhancing the exploitation capacity and applying technology and techniques to minimize after-harvest losses, the province will also support businesses in purchasing, storage, processing and equipment renovation, processing technology and application of advanced manufacturing standards; reorganize production towards value chain, connect stages from processing to consumption to enhance quality, food safety and environmental protection.