Dong Thap continues to increase the value of the tra fish industry

Identifying pangasius as a strategic industry, Dong Thap province has recently focused on developing this industry in a sustainable manner and increasing added value. In particular, the province has implemented many solutions to improve the efficiency of production, consumption, and market information linkages; digital transformation in the management and operation of the pangasius industry in terms of planning, identification code issuance, production and market information, etc.

FOCUS ON DEVELOPING THE BILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY

With effective policies, in recent years, the pangasius industry in Dong Thap province has developed in a comprehensive, modern direction, applying high technology, and improving the value chain. The province has focused on disseminating and popularizing planning work, legal regulations on breed management, aquaculture and related documents of the Central and local governments to organizations and individuals to know and implement; advising on the issuance of a Decision to approve and implement the plan to manage commercial pangasius farming areas in the province until 2030, with a vision to 2050.

Processing pangasius for export at IDI Multinational Investment and Development Joint Stock Company (Lap Vo commune).

At the same time, continue to monitor the water environment for aquaculture; coordinate with institutes and schools to support local pangasius breeding stock to select fast-growing and disease-resistant breeds to improve the quality of breeds for effective commercial farming...

An important achievement in the pangasius farming models in the province is the application of modern technology to the farming process to increase productivity and product quality: selecting high-quality breeds, deep processing technology and biological solutions to improve production efficiency. In addition, identifying the waterway transportation system as an advantage, Dong Thap province makes good use of it to transport breeds, food and products in pangasius farming areas.

To develop the pangasius industry sustainably, in addition to the vertical linkage method between farming households and enterprises in the province, there is also a horizontal linkage method between farming households through guilds, cooperatives, cooperative groups, etc. Recently, Chau Thanh Aquatic Production and Service Cooperative (Phu Huu commune) has implemented many solutions in pangasius production towards enhancing the value chain.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Director of Chau Thanh Aquatic Production and Service Cooperative shared: “Since cooperating with enterprises, the Cooperative has followed the production process according to VietGAP standards from raw materials to product output.

Since then, the Cooperative’s commercial pangasius products have increasingly built up prestige and trust with businesses through increasing orders. This has created conditions for the Cooperative to sustainably accompany businesses, reducing consumption pressure on farmers.”

As a unit with many years of experience in the province's pangasius industry, Hung Ca Company Limited (Binh Thanh commune) owns a pangasius farming area of more than 700 hectares.

In particular, the company applies closed production processes from farming, processing and exporting according to international standards, ensuring a stable source of raw materials and strictly monitoring the production process. Mr. Tran Van Hung, Chairman of the Board of Directors, General Director of Hung Ca Company Limited said: "Complying with international procedures on water systems, ponds, farming techniques and fish processing plant systems costs a lot of money, but in return, farmed fish have less diseases, output increases by 3-5%, improves product quality and reduces production costs...".

According to the assessment of the Vietnam Pangasius Association, the pangasius industry has contributed a lot to the country's economy . The export data of pangasius has continuously increased over the past years. Especially in recent years, pangasius has brought in foreign currency of 1.8-2.4 billion USD for the seafood export industry.

Vietnam has favorable natural conditions for raising pangasius, especially in the Mekong Delta region such as Dong Thap, An Giang , Can Tho, Vinh Long with pangasius farming area of about 5,000-6,000 hectares, average annual output is 1.6-1.8 million tons.

In the first 6 months of 2025, the country's pangasius output is estimated to reach more than 871,900 tons, up 4.5% over the same period last year. Cumulative exports in the first half of 2025 reached 1.023 billion USD, up 11% over the same period in 2024. Particularly for Dong Thap province, the output and export turnover account for about 35% of the country's...

Ms. Vo Phuong Thuy, Director of Dong Thap Department of Industry and Trade said: “With the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the provincial Department of Industry and Trade builds, operates, supports and guides enterprises, cooperatives and business households to use the Product Traceability Management System.

At the same time, through training programs, encourage and guide farming facilities to apply and certify production processes and standards such as: VietGAP, GlobalGAP, ASC, BAP; implement traceability processes in production to improve the value and quality of agricultural products, including pangasius...

Dong Thap enterprises also focus on creating many high-quality, value-added products from pangasius such as spring rolls, fish balls, collagen, gelatin, fish oil, dried fish skin... and using pangasius by-products to process animal feed. In addition, by-products and waste during the farming and processing process are used to produce organic fertilizers for agricultural production...".

Mr. Duong Nghia Quoc - Chairman of the Vietnam Pangasius Association, commented: "In recent times, the pangasius industry in Dong Thap province has affirmed its good position in the market of the Mekong Delta region and the whole country with export turnover increasing year by year.

To do this, the sectors and levels in the province have built a continuous value chain from raw material production, processing and supporting industries to increase the value of exported products. In particular, quality control and food safety help products meet the requirements of the international market. Thanks to the application of advanced technology and compliance with quality standards such as: ASC, GlobalGAP, BAP... Dong Thap pangasius continues to conquer many large markets such as: China, the US, the EU...

IMPROVING COMPETITIVENESS OF PANGASIUS INDUSTRY

In its development orientation, Dong Thap province strives to have 100% of pangasius farming facilities digitally identified according to regulations, and 100% of commercial pangasius farming facilities granted certificates of eligibility for production or signed commitments to produce safe food according to regulations.

Harvesting pangasius fish in Hong Ngu ward.

Of which, over 50% of the commercial pangasius farming area applies and is certified with GAP good agricultural practices standards and 90% of the pangasius farming households participate in production and consumption linkages.

Regarding the quality of pangasius fingerlings, strive for over 75% of fingerlings serving high-quality commercial farming, ensuring that 60% of pangasius fingerling breeding facilities must use genetically improved fish stocks. The pangasius farming environment continues to be closely monitored, striving for about 60% of the farming area to have wastewater and sludge treatment systems according to regulations and 100% of water sources on the main river to be regularly monitored according to regulations...

The province also strives to improve food quality and safety, deploy digital identification codes for pangasius farming facilities, ensuring traceability; 100% of commercial pangasius farming facilities are granted certificates of eligibility for safe food production; strive to increase the pangasius farming area applying good agricultural practices (GAP) standards; strengthen control of fish seed quality, ensuring that over 75% of fish seed for commercial farming are high-quality seeds...

Pangasius farming area in Hong Ngu ward.

Mr. Ong Hang Van, Deputy General Director of Truong Giang Seafood Company (Sa Dec Ward) shared: “In the coming time, to increase the value of the pangasius industry, businesses and households need to change the way of raising, crossbreeding, low-density farming, and disease prevention to help pangasius grow quickly, reduce costs, and improve product competitiveness; apply science and technology, modernize the process of farming and processing pangasius; strengthen linkages in production, consumption, and market information”.

Mr. Huynh Tat Dat, Deputy Director of Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: “Dong Thap has been restructuring the pangasius industry, focusing on monitoring the aquatic environment of aquaculture, digital transformation in the management and operation of the pangasius industry such as: planning management, identification code issuance, production information, market, farming environment adapting to climate change conditions and sustainable development. In addition, the province continues to implement the project of linking the production of high-quality pangasius breeds at 3 levels, encouraging small-scale breeding facilities and commercial farming facilities to link up to form associations, cooperatives, and cooperatives to create large-scale products with consistent quality…”.

With the mindset of an expert, Mr. Duong Nghia Quoc said that Dong Thap province needs to focus on solutions to enhance the value of the tra fish industry, in which seafood processing and exporting enterprises should research the market well to produce products suitable for each region. Specifically, such as: sliced fish for the African market; skinless fish for the Japanese market; fish cakes for the ASEAN market... Along with that, Dong Thap should strengthen the value chain linkage from breed to finished products.

In particular, focusing on high-quality seed sources combined with production and deep processing; the logistics service industry system creates good competitiveness. The province also needs to expand export markets, especially markets with high requirements for quality and food safety; strengthen trade promotion, advertise pangasius products; apply environmentally friendly farming methods; effectively manage waste during farming and processing; promote deep processing, create value-added products, make the most of pangasius by-products to increase economic efficiency...

KHANH PHAN

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/kinh-te/202508/dong-thap-tiep-tuc-nang-gia-tri-nganh-hang-ca-tra-1047810/