Basa farmers cash in with technology

MEKONG DELTA — Fish farmers in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are making big bucks exporting the ever popular basa catfish.

To meet the increasing demand for the tasty treat, farmers are using a new website called Wikimapia to find the best places to breed catfish in the Tien and Hau Rivers.

The website, owned by the same company that runs the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, has a wealth of aerial photographs and satellite images from around the world, including Viet Nam.

Farmers say the images give them a better idea of where catfish are likely to mature best.

"This website allows me to see the whole area. I can figure out which land is suitable for fish breeding," says Nguyen Van Hoa.

The "land hunters", a name that’s beginning to catch on for these innovative fishers, have focused their efforts where the two rivers cross into Can Tho and Tra Vinh Provinces.

"These are perfect spots to breed fish because the area has strong currents to oxygenate the waters and a stable eco-system devoid of pollutants," he says.

"Just by clicking the mouse, I learn the pros and cons of each region. The only thing I have to worry about is the price of the land!" says Hoa.

With the help of his partners, Hoa has also bought 10ha of land in Dong Thap Province. The farmers say they are considering buying even more on the Hau River because the catfish market is so strong.

Last year, fish breeders almost doubled their profits when the price of catfish reached VND15,000 (US$0.93) per kilogram.

The price jumped again in early 2007 to VND17,000 per kilogram, VND7,000 ($0.43) more than it costs to breed the lucrative fish.

Fish farmers in the area say they can now afford luxuries like cars and boats.

Land locked

But as the value of catfish rises, so too does that of the land where farmers set up shop.

In Tan Loc, another prime breeding location, 1,000 sq.m of land can cost upwards of VND280 million (US$17,000), depending on the soil and how good the fishing is.

Le Thi The, a catfish cultivator who made tens of billions of dong exporting seafood last year, says she’s seen land in Tan Loc become much more expensive.

The price for 1,000 sq.m of land went from VND50 million ($3,125) to VND200 million ($12,500) in just three years, she says.

The cost balances out because 10,000 sq.m of fishing land is worth anything from VND700 million (US$43,750) to VND1 billion (US$62,500), says The.

Many farmers haven’t balked at the steep prices because they can recover their money within a year, she says. Producing the fish costs around VND14,000 ($0.87) with the added expense of purchasing land.

Le Van Thanh, a cultivator from Binh Minh District, says there may not be enough land to meet farmers’ needs if the price stays between VND180 million ($11,250) to 200 million.