Ca Mau (VNS/VNA) - Led by high-tech methods, the VietGAP-compliant shrimpfarming project is bringing previously unseen wealth to the southernmostprovince of Ca Mau.

Theextensive white-legged shrimp growing model – part of the Coastal Resources forSustainable Development Project (CRSD) – is supported by CRSD’s managementboard with funds from the World Bank.

In TanDien village, Tan Duyet Commune, Dam Doi district, the white-legged shrimpfarming model is deployed at 161 households taking up over 100 hectares, andit’s expected to expand further to another 90 households.

Head ofone of the piloting households, To Hoai Thuong said after four months ofraising shrimp at a density of 100 shrimps per square metre, his householdharvested some 2,800 kg.

“Besidesthe financial support, the thing we appreciate the most is technical support wehave received,” Thuong told Nong thon Ngay nay (Countryside Today) newspaper.“During the whole farming process, I tried to stick to the breeding schedulethat experts recommended. We also grow tilapia in the same shrimp ponds, whichhelps create better water circulation and limits white-spot or yellowheaddiseases.”

He addedthat the shrimp farms were carefully constructed, following experts’instructions to best protect the environment.

“Subtractingthe expenses, I earn a profit of 200 million VND a crop (8,800 USD),considerably higher compared to when I used the traditional method,” Thuongsaid.

“Plus, itgives a comfortable peace of mind,” he added, referring to the new model’sbenefits in reduced risks of diseases and ensured food safety of the products.

In Cai Nuocdistrict, the VietGap model has also brought about positive results.

LocalPhan Van On said the benefit of joining the piloting project is receivinginstructions from “very helpful technical experts.”

Thanks totheir expertise, On said he was aware of the needs to invest into cleanproduction that abides by VietGAP standards, “With initial investment of 70million per hectare, each crop yield total output worth of 200 million VND (8,800USD), for a profit of 80 million (3,500 USD). Each year I can grow two cropslike this.”

Accordingto years of research and social surveys on farming, experts file thedifficulties of shrimp farming into three main groups: environment, economy,and social issues. These sorts of difficulties arise in all elements ofproduction, from stock supply and breeding, to technical management, caring,and transporting.

“Householdsjoining the project will receive technical assistance, especially regarding thefact that after each crop, a month of ‘rest’ is a must-have to ‘regenerate’ theshrimp ponds, sun-drying and cover the pond’s bottoms with lime,” On said.

“Compliancewith VietGAP standards not only brings us better income and profits, it alsoopens up a direction into sustainable production,” he added.

Accordingto Nguyen Van Teo, an agriculture extension official in Phu Hung commune, theproject reached out to some 240 households in the commune, who werebeneficiaries of technical knowledge and skills regarding extensive shrimpfarming.

“With thenew model, a crop can yield as high as 550-600kg per ha, while with thetraditional method, it’s lucky if the output is some 350kg a year,” Teo said.

Accordingto the project assessment team, all participating households complies fullywith the VietGAP standards.

Thesehouseholds’ production sites are all located within the area already plannedfor shrimp farming; environment protection standards and food safety andhygiene regulations are followed through.

Quach NgocBinh, deputy head of the CRDS project’s board of directors in Ca Mau province,said that the “biggest result” of the project is a change in farmers’production mindset.

“Fromseparate household production, farmers are now operating in groups, complyingwith recommended crop schedule, bearing the environmental protection andtechnology-integrated sustainable production in mind,” he said.

Binh alsoadded that the project also put an emphasis on the linkages between exportseafood manufacturers to ensure that farmers’ clean products will be sold andreach the market, guaranteeing their livelihoods.

The CRSDproject implemented in Ca Mau province involves 10 farming zones with 2,200households, and a total area of 2,230 hectares. The component conducting GAP(Good Agricultural Practices) in sustainable shrimp farming – implementedstarting from 2012 throughout 2017 in 5 districts, Dam Doi, Cai Nuoc, Nam Can,Phu Tan, Ngoc Hien – has provided 3,000 farmers with necessary GAP knowledgeand skills.-VNA