Vinh Long Province Develops Sustainable Pangasius Farming

By Vietnam Expo On 15-05-2024 at 7:24 am

(vasep.com.vn) According to Vinh Long Statistics Department, the whole province currently has 2,119 hectares of aquaculture area, an increase of 1.03% (equivalent to an increase of 21.62 hectares) over the same period last year; Of which the industrial pangasius farming area is 370.8 hectares, an increase of 0.12% or an increase of 0.42 hectares.

In the first four months of 2024, seafood production is estimated to have reached 44,812 tons, marking a 2.01% increase (or 883 tons) compared to the same period last year. Aquaculture contributed 42,838 tons, a 2.07% rise (or 869 tons), while industrially farmed pangasius output was 26,430.5 tons, up by 1.77%.

According to the Vinh Long Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, to boost the competitiveness of pangasius in domestic and international markets, the province is focusing on developing food-safe pangasius farming areas using good, advanced, and sustainable aquaculture practices. Additionally, they are guiding households and farming facilities to gradually implement digital and high-tech methods in intensive pangasius farming to enhance product quality, ensuring food safety, disease prevention, environmental safety, and traceability.

In 2023, the province added 25 hectares of water surface for commercial pangasius farming with VietGAP certification across one cooperative and five farming facilities, increasing the total area using advanced production standards to 55.8 hectares (nearly 16% of the total intensive pangasius farming area in the province).

This includes 27 hectares certified to ASC standards, 3.8 hectares to BAP standards, and 25 hectares to VietGAP standards, producing a total certified output of 11,845 tons/year (over 11% of total fish production annually).

Moreover, the province maintains a 4.5-hectare pangasius seed production facility with VietGAP certification, providing 54 million fingerlings annually and has 24 disease-free facilities. Currently, 100% of intensive pangasius farming areas use mud pumps, and 18% have mechanized feeding and water changing systems.

For 2024-2025, the province aims to further develop food-safe pangasius farming, following good, advanced, and sustainable aquaculture practices, with the goal of adding 55 hectares/year of certified water surface for commercial pangasius farming.