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| Seafood is one of Vietnam’s hard currency earners (Photo: www.dantri.com.vn) |
(VOVworld) – Last year, Vietnam earned more than 6.1 billion USD from seafood exports, becoming one of the world’s top 10 exporters. Despite continuous growth over time, aquaculture still requires tending. Planning not keeping pace with development rates, a slump in development while not tapping into the potential of the waters in advantageous areas, all pose risks to aquaculture development. To tackle this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is trying to complete a master-plan for aquaculture by 2020 with a vision toward 2030 for sustainability.
Aquaculture accounts for 60% of the country’s total agricultural, forestry and seafood output playing a key role in exports and domestic food consumption. The sector has not only generated many jobs, but also boosted regional economy and increased profits for farmers. By last year, the area for aquaculture expanded to nearly 1 million hectares. With the 762,000-hectare water surface, the Mekong River Delta is a great source of seafood supplies contributing to two thirds of the total export revenue. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is working with relevant provinces on planning for each locality focusing on those capable of bringing in high economic values, the expansion of farming, and diversifying forms of aquaculture. Nguyen Van Thao, an officer of the Seafood Branch of the Central Highlands province of Dac Lac, says ‘We will soon be consulting the provincial Seafood Department to propose the provincial People’s Committee to outline some investment policies on aquaculture development. The People’s Committee has requested that we implement investment policies in potential aquaculture’.
In recent years, the intensive farming of the waters for aquaculture contributed to enhancing gains for Dac Lac province by creating jobs for rural workers, and setting up material production zones which helps in reducing poverty locally. Aquaculture is considered an important economic industry for agricultural economy. But up to now development has been scattered and lacked coordination, in a climate of environmental recession, epidemics, an imbalance between supply and demand was been the reality in some areas. Truong Dinh Hoa, Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, says ‘Due to the exhaustion of the environment and sources of income, aquaculture developed in the 1990s’ not only in Vietnam but even in developed countries. Aquaculture has been considered a key to create sources of income. To date, Vietnam’s shrimp exports rank 4th in the world market while tra fish is the country’s hard currency earner the country supplying nearly 600,000 tons of consumable products. It means issues relating to quality and the environment should be paid greater attention along with aquaculture development’.
To finalize the master-plan, the seafood industry is implementing a series of specific measures including the application of food safety and hygiene management system, and enhancing traceability. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, seafood is one of the most sought after products in the world with a purchasing power estimated to grow 0.5% per year by 2015.
To Tuan