(vasep.com.vn) In 2009, the Rang Dong Corporative in Ben Tre province built up the brand name of farmed clam products with MSC certification successfully. This was the first clam certified by Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in Vietnam. The certification opened more opportunities for the province's farmed clams to get popular in foreign markets.
Currently, the Corporative totals 900 hectares of clam cultivation; 500 – 600 hectares of which were used to grow mature clams for next generations. There are more than 2,500 villagers (from 9,000 householders) are involved in the clam production chain. Its production reached 1,000 – 2,000 MT of commercial clam and seeds per year.
The MSC certification not only helps to raise the price of Ben Tre farmed clam in domestic and regional markets but it also offers opportunities to introduce products to European countries. The province is now trying to keep the production chain and management in check in order to ensure the compliance with MSC standards and lead provincial clam production towards sustainability and environment protection.
Thanks to high profits from sales of MSC clam, the Rang Dong Corporative makes a great contribution to its members with average household income of VND4.5 - 5 million per month.