The rice-shrimp production model in Ca Mau was established in 2000, focusing mainly in the districts of: Tran Van Thoi, U Minh, Thoi Binh and Ca Mau city. Currently, the province's rice-shrimp area is about 35.900 ha, of which district Thoi Binh 18.000 ha, U Minh 14.900 ha, Tran Van Thoi 2.000 ha, Cai Nuoc 500 ha and Ca Mau city 500 ha.
Sustainable model
The rice-shrimp production model has many advantages. After a shrimp crop, the wastes will be metabolized and absorbed by the rice plants, contributing to limiting the amount of fertilizers and pesticides in the early stages. In contrast, after a rice crop, the rice straw is decomposed to create a habitat for aquatic plants and animals, which is a natural food source for shrimp. As a result, this model contributes to reducing production costs, increasing productivity and profits.
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| People apply technological advances to production, plant high-quality rice varieties (ST 24, ST 25 ...), intercrop all-male giant freshwater prawn in the rice crop, and combine crab farming in the black tiger shrimp crop, so they have high income per unit area. (Photo taken at Tri Luc Rice and Shrimp Cooperative, Tri Luc Commune, Thoi Binh District). |
In addition to rotating 1 rice crop in the rainy season and 1 black tiger shrimp crop in the dry season, people have recently flexibly applied technological advances in intercropping with all-male crayfish in the rice crop; Combining crab farming in black tiger shrimp crop should give high income per unit area.
Many challenges and difficulties
In recent years, climate change and salinity have affected the development of agricultural production in the province, including the rice-shrimp production model.
Irrigation infrastructure for rice-shrimp production is interested in investment but has not been completed yet, so it has not met the requirements of water supply and drainage for some production areas, especially inland areas. In the dry season, many production areas lack water sources, or there are years of prolonged heavy rain that cannot drain water, and rice is flooded. The design of the shrimp farming fields of the people has not yet ensured that the production can adapt to the weather conditions, ensuring the stability of water environmental factors during the farming period. The implementation of affiliate models, product consumption is really not much. Production is still fragmented and individual; banks are not really secure to participate in the link chain...
To promote the economic value and added value of shrimp and rice from this model, the province proposed solutions to promote the application of science and technology in production. In association with the institute, the university invites scientists to participate in building an advanced and appropriate production process, ensuring certification standards, creating conditions for businesses to access the market to meet timely linkages in production and product consumption. Implement certification to meet international standards, multi-certification to sell shrimp in the rice-shrimp model in all markets around the world to increase the value. Reorganizing production in a collective direction, establishing cooperative groups, clubs, assembly halls, cooperatives...
The province's agricultural sector is promoting research and breeding many shrimp varieties suitable for the rice-shrimp production model.
“When entering cooperatives, people perform the crop at the same time, so it is easy to manage the disease. Materials or seeds are also available at a cheaper price. Organize technical training courses for cooperative members to produce more efficiently. In particular, the resulting products have a large output, so it is easy to sign offtake contracts," said Mr. Le Van Mua, director of Tri Luc Rice and Shrimp Cooperative (Tri Luc commune, Thoi Binh district).
However, the operation of cooperatives still faces many difficulties. According to Mr. Le Van Mua, the water source after many years of production tends to be polluted, it has to spend a lot of money to treat with probiotics. Besides, from February to May every year, there is a serious shortage of water; Shrimp prices are also not stable. “Currently, only Tan Vuong Company (An Giang province) consumes the cooperative's organic rice source, so the competition is not high. Cooperatives are in dire need of unsecured preferential capital; have specific tax policies; It is necessary to have more specific mechanisms for shrimp in the rice-shrimp area, and price subsidies to stabilize shrimp prices is the most important," suggested Mr. Rain.
Mr. Phan Hoang Vu said: “We will invite businesses to participate, step by step forming chain links, especially the supply of seeds, materials, input fertilizers and product consumption. Organize linkages along the value chain of shrimp and rice products, associating with the construction of a production area that is safe, food hygiene and disease-free to proactively organize production, improve the value and competitiveness of Ca Mau rice and shrimp products. Develop more cooperatives with full capacity to participate in linkage chains”.
“It is necessary to change the traditional production practices and strictly follow the production process given by the scientist or the enterprise's constraints. Farmers need to be active in linking together to establish production organizations with full conditions and capacity to implement, connect, deploy and receive support policies from the State and other organizations. In addition, farmers also need to keep their credibility and comply with the contracts signed with businesses, not arbitrarily breaking when prices fluctuate, so this link can really bring practical effects. Review and define specific planning for concentrated production areas in accordance with the potential and advantages of each region to have an effective link and investment roadmap," said Mr. Phan Hoang Vu.
Phu Huu
