(vasep.com.vn) On 8th August, a collective of four pangasius farming members in Tra Vinh received GlobalGAP certificate by Provincial Fisheries Association. This collective, leaded by Mr. Giang Van Bay, owns 1.2 hectare, located in Tan Hoa Commune, Tieu Can District.
The collective is the first small holder in the nation to receive GlobalGAP, said Mr. Truong The Van, Vice President of Tra Vinh Fisheries Association.
This is the program of sustainable development of supply chain, which has been implemented in the Mekong Delta provinces of Tien Giang, Dong Thap and Tra Vinh. The program is funded by the GIZ, WWF, the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), GlobalGAP in Europe and the Netherland’s ANOVA Seafood Company.
The program aims to help farmers and producers to operate in chain with internationally requirements in sustainably producing and trading certified pangasius to Europe.
In Tra Vinh, the program was implemented in 16 households in Cau Ke and Tieu Can districts from March 2011 to January 2014 with a total support fund of VND 1.9 billion, in which VND 688 million is from provincial budget.
Tra Vinh Fisheries Association and funders facilitated these farmers with the whole process, monitored by technicians and inspectors under GlobalGAP standards.
Now, in Tra Vinh, there are 110 farmers and 7 companies raising Pangasius in the total area of 120 hectares with annual production reaching 25,000-30,000 MT. Fish farming, however, are mostly small scaled and not applying sustainable standards.
It is expected that the model would be expanded in other farmers in different provinces to make contribution to develop Vietnam pangasius industry in the sustainable way.