Da Bac develops the potential of cage fish farming.

Following the merger, Da Bac commune in Phu Tho province is gradually taking on a new appearance with expanded development space and an increasing population.

Cage fish farming is providing people in the Da River reservoir area with a stable and sustainable source of income .

The local economic landscape has seen many positive changes. Notably, cage fish farming plays a crucial role, serving as a primary livelihood that contributes to job creation, increased income, and stable living conditions for people in villages along the banks of the Da River reservoir.

Located within the Hoa Binh hydroelectric reservoir area, Da Bac commune possesses significant potential for aquaculture development. Taking advantage of natural resources and a large, experienced workforce, local people have applied scientific and technological advancements and introduced high-value aquatic species into production. As a result, productivity, quality, and economic efficiency have gradually improved, contributing to the sustainable socio-economic development of the locality.

Mr. Dinh Cong Sanh in Ke hamlet is one of the exemplary households. Taking advantage of the clean water surface of the lake and readily available food sources such as corn, cassava, and grass produced by his family, he boldly invested in cage fish farming, gradually building a model that brings stable economic benefits. From the early days of many difficulties and lack of experience, his family now regularly maintains 8 fish cages.

Mr. Sanh said that previously, his family, like many households in the area, faced considerable difficulties, mainly relying on forestry and hired labor. However, thanks to boldly shifting towards cage fish farming combined with community tourism , his family's economy gradually improved. With an income of approximately 300 million VND per year, their living standards have significantly improved, and they have additional capital to reinvest and expand their operations.

Currently, many large-scale production models have emerged in the commune, bringing high economic efficiency. A typical example is the model of Mr. Xa Van Huy, Director of Hien Luong Agricultural and Forestry Production and Business Service Cooperative, with more than 40 cages for raising various types of specialty fish, generating revenue of over 500 million VND per year.

According to Mr. Huy, linking production through the cooperative model helps fish farmers reduce input costs, be more proactive in product consumption, and limit risks from market fluctuations. In reality, each fish cage yields an average profit of 10-15 million VND per year after deducting expenses. Thanks to this, many households have not only escaped poverty but are also gradually becoming wealthy.

Currently, the commune has 320 fish cages, with an annual production of approximately 2,250 tons; typical species include tilapia, carp, catfish, snakehead, catfish, sturgeon, etc., bringing high economic value. Aquaculture households, upon harvest, supply local consumption and distribute their products to central agricultural markets in the region.

According to Mr. Quan Hoang Nam, Head of the Economic Department of Da Bac commune, on average, each household in Da Bac commune raises 10-20 fish cages, generating hundreds of millions of VND in income annually. This has helped many households escape poverty and gradually achieve legitimate wealth. The fish caught are sold in Hanoi and serve the shopping, consumption, and culinary needs of tourists visiting Hoa Binh Lake.

In 2024, the People's Committee of Hoa Binh province (formerly) approved the Project for the Development of Aquaculture in Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir in conjunction with Tourism until 2030. Since then, the Da Bac commune area has developed a model where households both raise fish in cages to supply the market and develop eco-tourism and recreation.

Many households have proactively invested in additional tourist boats to transport visitors to attractions within the Hoa Binh Lake complex, serving food on board, taking visitors to fish farms, and preparing dishes from farmed fish products. Thanks to these initiatives, tourists can experience novel services, visit and use local specialties and products.

The model has opened up new directions in the socio-economic development goals of the commune, increasing the value of aquatic product production; creating opportunities for employment, increasing income for people, and especially promoting the development of tourism activities.

Despite the achievements, exploiting the potential of cage fish farming still faces many limitations, such as weak infrastructure serving aquaculture, a lack of fishing ports and wharves, processing facilities, and inadequate transportation and electricity supply. Furthermore, there is no system of standards and regulations for cages and floating houses associated with ecotourism and recreational activities, making business registration and service organization difficult.

Aquaculture activities remain fragmented, lacking concentrated production areas and synchronized investment; the number of establishments applying VietGAP or equivalent standards is still small; people lack capital to invest in infrastructure, equipment, breeding stock, and feed, leading to inconsistent farming technology, high risks, and unstable efficiency; linkages between actors in the value chain are weak, and the application of high science and technology is not widespread, increasing intermediate costs and limiting the added value of products.

To ensure the sustainable development of cage fish farming in the commune, it is necessary to promote the planning of farming areas in a concentrated, scientific manner, suitable to the actual conditions of the locality. Along with that, strengthening the value chain linkage from production to consumption will help increase product value and stabilize output for the people.

Providing access to science and technology, technology transfer, and facilitating access to loans also plays a crucial role in helping farmers improve productivity and quality. In addition, strict control over cage density is necessary to avoid uncontrolled expansion that could negatively impact the water environment, ensuring the long-term development of the industry.

In the coming period, the locality will continue to orient the development of cage fish farming towards sustainability, linked with OCOP standards and the development of ecotourism. At the same time, it will encourage people to participate in cooperatives and associations to improve production efficiency, increase linkages, build brands, and stabilize long-term livelihoods from cage fish farming.

HAO THUY

Source: https://nhandan.vn/da-bac-phat-huy-tiem-nang-nghe-nuoi-ca-long-post964116.html