11:07:42 AM | 7/3/2006
Aqua-products are strategic commodities of An Giang province. In spite of challenges and difficulties in the market, the province has adapted timely solutions and developed the aquaculture sector with more professionalism and efficiency. Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Nguyen Dinh Hoe, Deputy Secretary General of Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing (VASEP).
How do you evaluate the success of An Giang in aquaculture ?
An Giang has developed both the raising and processing of aqua-products. Product volumes increased in size and quality with the application of advanced technology and industrial methods. New enterprises have been established with modern production lines, meeting the demand of American and European markets and increasing export turnover. In particular, An Giang is regarded as the homeland of Tra and Basa catfish, and has been selected by the Ministry of Fisheries as an area for the implementation of the Vietnamese Tra-Basa Development Programme.
In view of lawsuit on catfish and shrimp, what should An Giang do ?
Europe and America are big markets but with stringent requirements on food safety and anti-dumping, causing difficulties for Vietnamese exporters. Therefore, I think that Vietnamese enterprises should improve administrative formalities and accounting books to meet the requirements and obtain low tax rates. They should also develop new markets to reduce risks and increase export turnover. Vietnam has managed quite well on the shrimp lawsuit and was highly regarded by international experts. It is a good experience to deal with other lawsuits.
Vietnamese aquaculture is facing challenges on quality, technology and environment, what are the solutions to this?
Quality remains the first condition for further development. In An Giang, many clubs have been established co-ordinating enterprises and farmers in feed supply to ensure quality. As a result, farmers are fully aware and more responsible for ensuring the quality of the products. The production method should also be changed from agricultural to industrial methods with closed production lines and quality management systems.
Should processing and export methods be changed too ?
Right, the products must be diversified, especially processed foods for each kind of customer. To do so, the enterprises must study the taste and liking in gastronomy of each market. They may also increase the production of subsidiary items from different parts of fish such as the fat, skin, and head.
The markets must also be diversified. The demand for aqua-products is increasing for they are no longer products with high prices. Raising them ensures high productivity and lower prices, more people can afford to buy them. For instance, salmon was high quality product. At the present, the price is down from US$6-7 to US$1-2 per kilo. According to the forecast of international experts, the price of small shrimp will fall to VND30,000-40,000 per kilo, bigger shrimp (30-40 shrimps a kilo) VND50,000-60,000 per kilo. As a result, the production cost must be reduced and only the application of new technology, better management and adequate capital can help production.
We should pay more attention to the large domestic market. There are currently over 100 value added commodities appreciated at home and they should be improved to meet the ever-higher living conditions in Vietnam.
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