Pangasius farming area slumping down

In the first nine months of 2011, fishery production of the province estimated at 112,000 MT, up 0.58 percent over the corresponding period of 2010 in which aquaculture production reported over 106.663 MT, up 4.63 percent. Intensive pangasius farming production reached 88,371 MT, down 5.39 percent against the same period last year. It is estimated that in 2011, fish output will reach over 143,000 MT, representing an increase of 2.17 percent on that of 2010 and intensive pangasius farming production will try to gain 113,373 MT.

It is hoped that in 2011, the fish farming area of the province will reach more than 2,315 hectares and the number of fish farming cages will report 740 ones, higher 77 ones over that of 2010, mainly for red tilapia breeding.

According to Dong Thap Sub-Department of Fisheries, until 28th September 2011, Dong Thap (the province with the largest pangasius farming area) harvested 280,388 MT of pangasius, completing 93.5 percent of full-year target in which farming area only reached 1,409 hectares, completing 70.5 percent of full-year target and uncultivated area is 94.7 hectares.