Breeding shrimp in Tien Giang Province’s Go Cong Dong district. (Photo: VNA)TienGiang (VNS/VNA) – Farmers in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giangare raising the fry of high - value aquatic species on an area of more than6,000ha this year, up marginally from last year, according to the province’sDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The species includeblack tiger shrimp, white – legged shrimp, giant river prawn, tra fish, and clam.
The farmers haveharvested nearly 11,000 tonnes so far this year for both domestic consumptionand processing for exports, also marginally higher than in the same period lastyear.
With a coastline of 32kmand a dense river and canal network, the province has a huge advantage in termsof breeding all kinds of aquatic species, whether saltwater, brackish orfreshwater.
It has developed anumber of farming models and bred various aquatic species suitable for eacharea.
In coastal areas in thedownstream region of the Tien River, a tributary of the Mekong, black tigershrimp and white-legged shrimp are bred.
Tra is bred in isletsfurther upstream on the Tien River.
Theprovince has established areas for farming fish in floating cages along the TienRiver.
Last year it sufferedsevere saltwater intrusion in the dry season, but aquaculture was not affectedmuch and most farmers enjoyed high and steady incomes.
The price of tra fishincreased to 22,000 - 24,000 VND (0.9 – 1 USD) per kilogramme inthe last few months of last year, up 3,000 - 4,000 VND from earlier months.
Farmers are breeding tra fish on around 100ha to supplyprocessors for export.
Hundreds of farmersalong coastal areas in the Cua Tieu and Cua Dai estuaries are breeding shrimpusing advanced two-stage and three -stage industrial farming models.
The two-stage modelrequires various ponds for breeding shrimp and treating water. Juvenile shrimpare first bred in the nursery pond for a few weeks before being transferred tothe main pond for intensive breeding.
The shrimp breedingponds are equipped with oxygenation facilities, anti-sunlight nets and plastic sheetson the bed.
Both models offer a highyield of 40 - 50 tonnes per hectare per crop./.
