Workers process shrimps for export in the central province of Phu Yen (Photo: VNA)Phu Yen (VNA) - Breeding shrimp together with otheraquatic products is preventing disease without using chemicals and providingsustainable results for farmers in the central coastal province of Phu Yen.
In the past, breeding black-tiger shrimp and white shrimp athigh density resulted in epidemics that forced breeders to use chemicals totreat polluted water. Now the province has implemented effective combinedbreeding models, which helps to minimise pollution.
Accordingto tests conducted by the Dong Hoa district’s veterinary laboratory, shrimpsbred there were mainly infected with acute liver-and-marrow necrosis, andwhite-spot and red-body diseases.
Tolimit the epidemic and environmental pollution, shrimp breeders have beenbreeding shrimp with other aquatic products, such as blue crab and tilapia.
"Iam breeding tilapia with shrimps in a family pond. I see the water environmentin the pond is better than previous years when I bred only shrimp,”said shrimp breeder Nguyen But of Hoa Tam commune.
“Thepond’s bottom is no longer polluted by food leftovers, while the shrimps growrapidly. Although the profit is lower than the model of only shrimp breeding, Iearn 100 million VND (4,400 USD) to 120 million VND from 5 sao (1 sao equals360sq.m) of water surface per crop. Every year I can raise twocrops and the water environment is still guaranteed."
Anothershrimp breeder, Huynh Hung of Hoa Hiep Nam commune, who is breeding shrimp andblue crabs, said "Firstly, I feed baby shrimps with microbiology fermentedbran, and the shrimp’s growth is very good. After 15 days, I give themindustrial feed," Hung said.
DoKim Dong, chief of Dong Hoa district’s agriculture department, said that in2016, local authorities supported 600kg of baby tilapias for shrimp farmers infour communes and towns to develop the combined model of shrimp breeding.
“Tilapiascan consume feed leftovers, limiting water pollution," Dong said.
Meanwhile,in neighbouring district of Tuy An, shrimp farmers are breeding shrimp togetherwith oysters, blue crabs, seaweed and fish.
TranSau, head of Tuy An district’s agriculture department said "The combinedshrimp raising model is bringing profit to breeder. The model is suitable forenvironmental condition of O Loan Lagoon.”
Expandingmodel
Overthe past few years, Phu Yen province’s Agricultural Promotion Centre has builtup several aquatic-product breeding models that utilises new and advancedtechnology.
NguyenKhac Tan, the centre’s deputy director, said from 2010 to 2012, farmers in twocommunes Xuan Loc and Ha Xuan Dong were the first in the province to breedshrimp together with tilapias and seaweed. The combination created clean waterand limited the penetration and development of disease bacteria.
Thecentre has also developed combination models of black-tiger shrimp (also calledprawn in Europe) and blue crabs in Song Cau town, and black-tiger shrimp withsea cucumber in Xuan Hai commune.
Anothermodel developed by the centre was VietGAP-standard shrimp breeding in Hoa HiepNam commune of Dong Hoa district.
"Eachmodel has its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, although most modelshave been implemented and proved sustainable effectiveness, technicians andexperts must evaluate what model will be suitable for each farming area,"Tan said.
PhuYen province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development director NguyenTrong Tung said the province’s overall goal is to develop its shrimp breedingindustry into a large-scale model, adaptable to climate change and ecologicallyfriendly. In the 2017-20 period, total shrimp farming area in the province isestimated to reach about 1,940ha.
Thedepartment also requested local agricultural departments to complete detailedplanning for shrimp breeding and infrastructure investment soon in order tobring into full play the potential for sustainable shrimp farming.-VNA
VNA
