Bac Lieu orients to be the hub of Vietnam shrimp industry

Bac Lieu has established the Bac Lieu High-tech Agricultural Zone for shrimp development, with an area of nearly 420 hectares, a total investment of more than 3,200 billion VND with the support of the Government and the ministries and central branches. This area has built stage 1 infrastructure (preparing to welcome the first nine enterprises into operation) so far and is taking the next steps to soon put into operation.

By 2020, the shrimp production of Bac Lieu is estimated at more than 200,000 MT, the highest ever, accounting for nearly 19% of the country's shrimp production, contributing to the seafood export turnover of over $ 800 million.

Bac Lieu is alluring many corporations, companies with 100% foreign capital, and domestic enterprises to join the shrimp production chain from seed production, technical materials for the shrimp industry to processing for exports. And the birth of cooperative groups and high-tech shrimp farming cooperatives stretching 56km along the coast confirms that the province has chosen an appropriate development direction on alluvial land.

In particular, the cooperatives specializing in super-intensive shrimp farming using high technology in the coastal area of Bac Lieu have formed continuously. These cooperatives are not only a gathering place for farmers to share experience in production, improving the efficiency of the collective economy and each household member. It also creates jobs, stable lives for thousands of local workers in the coastal alluvial area.

The seafood exporters in the province still maintain traditional export markets to continue to export such as Japan, the EU, the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, the Middle East, etc. in addition to continuing to expand the new markets in Asian countries. Thanks to that, the province's export turnover in 2020 increase by 11% over the same period. The export products are focused on seafood. Besides, the EVFTA Agreement took effect in early August 2020, which helps businesses take advantage of opportunities to expand export markets to the European market in the time to come.

Currently, the province is completing all procedures to export whole shrimp to Australia. To attain this goal, the province has directed the construction of disease-free hatcheries, biosecurity shrimp farming areas,  etc. The pioneer in this field is Vietnam - Australia Group.

The Provincial People's Committee assigns the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement the Agricultural Sector Restructuring Scheme in 2021. The scheme will focus on developing the value chain of the shrimp industry, applying science - technology, especially high technology, to boost productivity, quality, reduce cost reduction, and cope with climate change. DARD also needs to build organic aquaculture zones with key products, building and implementing shrimp production chains, and meeting disease safety standards to export whole shrimp to Australia and other countries.