For the sustainable development of the pangasius industry.

Việt Nam•24/10/2023

The pangasius industry is currently a key sector in the Mekong Delta region.

Intensive pangasius farming, processing, and export in the Mekong Delta has great potential for development. However, many difficulties and challenges remain in developing the industry and exports in the future.

The key industry is still facing difficulties.

According to the Department of Fisheries, pangasius farming is a key industry in the Mekong Delta region. Currently, Vietnamese pangasius products are present in over 140 markets worldwide . Export turnover in 2022 reached US$2.44 billion.

This is one of the key species in Vietnam's aquaculture industry, contributing a large proportion to the industry's export turnover, creating jobs for hundreds of thousands of workers, and improving the income and living standards of the people in recent years.

However, the pangasius industry is also facing many difficulties and challenges, from breeding stock and farming infrastructure to access to credit.

Besides, there are still some limitations in the production, processing, environmental treatment, linkages, and consumption chains that need to be improved. Dr. Pham Thi Thu Hong, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Pangasius Association (VINAPA), said that pangasius is the main aquaculture species in the Mekong Delta provinces, concentrated most heavily in Dong Thap, An Giang , Can Tho, Ben Tre, and Vinh Long... with a total farming area of nearly 6,000 hectares.

Pangasius catfish are raised intensively in earthen ponds, entirely on industrial pellet feed. However, the farming areas are not concentrated but mainly consist of corporate farms and individual households, and the infrastructure supporting the farming is not synchronized...

According to studies, achieving an average yield of approximately 200 tons of fish per hectare requires a minimum of 320 tons of feed and about 256 tons of organic matter released into the environment. A production volume exceeding 1.5 million tons poses a significant challenge for concentrated farming areas, as current waste treatment methods mainly involve water changes, biological products, and sludge removal on a regular basis; only a few farming regions utilize modern technology.

“Currently, there are over 100 pangasius processing facilities nationwide with a total designed capacity estimated at 1.5 million tons of raw materials per year. These facilities are equipped with modern machinery, equipment, and technology, meeting the requirements and standards of the export market. However, the processing of by-products into high-quality products is still limited and not fully utilized, leading to increased pollution of processing wastewater. Most wastewater treatment systems use traditional technology, which is not optimally effective, increasing costs and resulting in higher production prices…” – Ms. Hong stated.

In Vinh Long, Mr. Nguyen Van Liem, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that the province's agricultural sector has continued to restructure aquaculture production towards industrial, intensive farming and food safety. Simultaneously, it has developed potential aquaculture species and diversified aquaculture practices. In the first nine months of 2023, the total aquaculture production is estimated at nearly 111,000 tons, an increase of 1.2% compared to the same period last year.

However, in recent times, pangasius farming and consumption have faced many difficulties. Besides a weak consumer market, farmers have also suffered reduced profits due to a scarcity of quality fingerlings, rising feed costs, and persistently low raw pangasius prices, leading to losses and a lack of capital for reinvestment.

We need to promote the circular economy.

According to experts, the quality of farmed pangasius and the food safety and hygiene control system have been very positively evaluated by the international market in recent times. To enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam's pangasius industry chain while reducing emissions, economic experts suggest continued public-private cooperation to promote best practices and initiatives in developing a circular economy and reducing emissions.

Strengthening research and applying science and technology to improve production processes such as seed production, cultivation, procurement, and processing helps increase productivity and production efficiency, while also managing and utilizing by-products effectively to create high added value and reduce emissions.

Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the Fisheries Department, stated: According to the orientation of the seafood processing industry and the environmental protection plan for the fisheries sector in the period 2021-2030, the circular economy is one of the goals that the fisheries sector needs to strive for. Building and developing circular economy and green economy models in fisheries activities is crucial for environmental protection and sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

From the perspective of public-private partnerships (PPP) in aquaculture, initiating research, assessing the current situation and challenges, and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the pangasius industry as it orients towards a circular economy model will initially lay the foundation for proposing energy-saving and emission-reducing production technologies throughout the chain, helping the pangasius industry develop sustainably.

According to Ms. Thu Hong, localities need to develop detailed plans, and aquaculture areas need to be planned in conjunction with separate water supply and drainage systems. The goal is to form concentrated pangasius production zones, expanding high-tech, recirculating pangasius farming models that utilize recovered sludge.

Strengthening quality control of broodstock, fingerlings, and feed, and controlling fish diseases are crucial to minimizing waste and environmental impact. Simultaneously, investment in processing by-products should be promoted to enhance the value chain of the industry. Processing businesses need to be well-prepared and effectively fulfill their social responsibilities, recognizing that social responsibility is vital for increasing the competitiveness of Vietnam's fisheries sector...

Promoting a circular economy and reducing emissions are essential for the sustainable development of the pangasius industry.

"Pangasius farming is a key industry, and Vietnam has an absolute advantage in this product market, so it needs to be prioritized for sustainable development in the future. We hope that the industry will receive attention and increased investment, both in quality and quantity, from all levels, sectors, and localities."

"We should especially leverage the advantages of science and technology, and capital from public-private partnerships in production and processing to develop the pangasius industry sustainably in the future," said Mr. Tran Dinh Luan.

• Text and photos: TRÀ MY

Source