The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has targeted its blackish water shrimp production at 63,000 tons on an area of 113,000 ha this year. Of this total farming area, industrial and semi-industrial farming area is 2,600 ha, with production of 16,240 tons, shrimp - rice farming area is 89,000 ha, with output of 40,838 tons and the rest is improved-extensive farming area, with ouput of 5,922 tons.
To realize this target, Kien Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed its relevant state agencies to further monitor shrimp farming area, especially enhance environmental monitoring and warning to ensure shrimp diseases remain under control. In addition, relevant agencies and local authorities should closely follow the environmental situation to take proactive measures in case of draught and saline intrusion during the ongoing dry season. Apart from this, the province would speed up agricultural expansion, promote the use of technology and advanced farming models and closely control production and provide free-diseased shrimp seeds for farmers.
Also, the province plans to restructure its aquaculture based on large shrimp farming model towards add value and linking seafood processing and export enterprises with shrimp farmers. At the same time, it would focus on upgrading irrigation systems to provide water to meet the needs of shrimp farmers; build models of industrial and semi – industrial shrimp farming, rice – shrimp farming towards VietGAP, etc.
By the end of February 2017, Kien Giang province stocked shrimp seeds on an area of 66,260 ha, fulfilling 58.6 per cent of the year’s plan which focused on the districts of An Minh, An Binh, Vinh Thuan, U Minh Thuong, Kien Luong, Hon Dat and Go Quao. Shrimp production was estimated roughly 4,665 tons, meeting over 7.4 per cent of the year’s plan and up 35.7 per cent compared to the same period last year.
This result was attributable to favorable weather and environmental conditions for farming shrimp. In addition, the shrimp price has been on the rise since early year. Currently, the price of black tiger shrimp sized 30pc/kg varies from VND 245,000 to VND 250,000/kg while that of white legged shrimp ranges from VND 120,000 to VND 130,000/kg, encouraging the farmers to more stock shrimp seeds.
Source: D-Fish