4:46:28 PM | 29/8/2005
The fisheries sector of Can Tho City has made encouraging steps in recent years. In 2004, the sector covered all fields including exploiting and processing aquaculture for export, and has considerably expanded raising areas and increased outputs.
Expanding material area
The Can Tho City fisheries sector has increased its productivity thanks to suitable investment. Raising breeds include shrimps, anabas, Gift tilapia, loc fish, tra fish and ba sa fish. According to the statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Can Tho City now has over 7,400 ha of water surface with 467 fish raising cages representing a 20 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. In 2004, the city had a total fishing area of 10,880 ha, which brought in a combined annual yield of over 60,000 tonnes.
To ensure quality inputs for the export processing industry, in 2004, Can Tho City checked hygienic and veterinary conditions in 31 fish farms, fish feed stores and fishery pharmacies and 70 fish-rearing cages. The sector also granted 146 licenses for fish farms and fishery pharmacies, provided certificates of compliance for 12 kinds of imported fish feeds and for one batch of shrimp skin exported to China, and confirmed 246 announcements on fishery quality. As of late 2004, Can Tho City has 76 fish-rearing farms capable of meeting the demand in the city and neighbouring provinces. Of this number, 37 farms supplied 100 million batches of tiger prawns and 30 million batches of crayfish. The remaining 39 farms turned out two billion baby fish and 200 million breeding fish. The High Quality Shrimp Raising Association has also been set up with 25 members, aiming to provide good breeding fish and act as a bridge for breeders and farmers. In particular, in 2004 the sector set up the Can Tho Fisheries Association to link farmers, scientists and enterprises (banks, purchasers, processors and exporters). The sector also constructed various forms of aquaculture, such as combining crayfish raising and rice cultivation with an annual crayfish yield of 500-3,000 kg/ha, intertwining fish raising and rice growing with an annual fish output of 500-1,000 kg/ha, which generated a profit of VND15-60 million (US$936-3,750) per hectare. The production of fresh water anabas, loc fish and catfish reached 60-150 tonnes/ha, which brought in a net profit of VND100-150 million (US$6,250-9,375)/ha. More impressively, tra fish raising is well-developed here, reaching an annual yield of 100-400 tonnes/ha, which generates a profit of VND500 million-VND2 billion (US$31,250-125,000).
Setting up a strong foothold
Can Tho’s fish export processing industry has also reaped good rewards. In 2004, enterprises in Can Tho City processed and exported 33,5000 tonnes of aquatic product, including 4,800 tonnes of prawn, 23,700 tonnes of fish and 5,000 tonnes of other aquatic products, earning total export revenues of US$127.3 million.
In coming years, Can Tho City aims to make a breakthrough in aquaculture. Effective aquaculture models will be duplicated, for example, the combination of fish raising and rice cultivation. The city will also adjust fishing development plans until 2010 in order to secure a stable development, protect the environment and ecosystem, and promote the capacity of fish farms. Under the plan, Can Tho City will have a total aquaculture area of 11,500 ha, including 850 ha for shrimp raising, which will turn out 70,000 tonnes a year. Mr. Pham Van Quynh, deputy director of Can Tho City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said his department is hiring Southern Economic and Fishery Planning Division to consult on adjustments to fishery development plans in the city. The city government, enterprises and farmers will join forces to secure a strong foothold for Can Tho City’s aquatic products on the both the domestic and international market.
Hoa Binh