Thus, the project of developing, processing and consuming pangasius in Cuu Long Delta to 2020 of the Prime minister is the way to developing farming firmly.
According to Dong Thap seafood association, the area of farming pangasius in the province in the recent years has continued to increase. In 2009, it reached 1,500 ha which increases 300 ha compared to 2008 and increases 600ha compared to the plan. The expected production reaches 246.500 tonnes. The whole province has 14 factories of processing feed for seafood which supply the market 884,000 tonnes/ ensure the demand of farming pangasius in the proprince. Currenly, there are 8 factories of processing seafood with the capacity of 240,000 tonnes/year.
However, it is this mass development which is not according to project that makes the decreasing the price of pangasius, farmers face a lot of difficulties. Mr Dinh Van Tanh in Tan Hong district has farmed fish for 6 years. When we came, he was selling 2 ha pangasius to Vinh Hoan joinstock company. He says: “ in the recent years, pangasius farming has faced a lot of difficulties because the feed price is too high when the price of fish decreases and they lack of capital to manufacture. The amount of ponds that is ensured the products by company is very few, many enterprises just choose places where concentrate a lot of seafood to buy when small households have to sell through traders”.
Dong Thap has more than 60% small and scattered farming households, thus the connection amongs these households is very urgent. The aim of the project of developing manufacture and consumption of pangasius in Cuu Long Delta to 2010 is that new base of farming pangasius has to have the area from at least 10ha and in the schemed area. According to Mr Duong Van Nhiep, vice president of Dong Thap seafood association, this is not the simple work that can be completed in short term but we need time to change the manufacturing methods of farmers. There are many places where farmers want to connect manufacture but they have to face difficulties from enterprises. Several enterprises are not willing to sign contracts of buying the products.
Helping pangasius farmers carry out correctly the motto of the government project, Dong Thap seafood association has gradually built the plan of developing pangasius farming with the aim at in 2010, the farming area will reach 1,872 ha, the production will be 285,000 tonnes. Instruct districts in province to deploy the detailed scheme of pangasius manufacturing zone, manufacture and consumption. Popularize and instruct policies and support seafood development in the policies of supporting agricultural development according to Decision 138/ QĐ-UBND.HC, on January 22, 2009 of Dong Thap people committee. Increase the role of association, seafood co-operative to become a link between enterprises, farmers and scientists, have market report in time to manufacture and consumption. Besides, deploy form contract in consuming material pangasius according to the instruction of the province. Regularly check and warn the farming environment as well as predict diseases to overcome difficulties.
It can be confirmed that the project of developing manufacture and pangasius consumption is the best solution helping farming pangasius in Cuu Long Delta to develop firmly. This is the happiness as well as challenges for pangasius farming in local areas. However, this is the indispensable development and if farming households join to make competitive force, they will be successful.
Source: KTNT
Translated by Vietfish Community
