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In Bien Bach commune, intercropping giant freshwater prawns in rice paddies not only helps farmers adapt flexibly to seasonal salinity and freshwater conditions but also brings double economic benefits, contributing to environmental protection and increasing the value of agricultural production.

These days, the rice-shrimp farming areas in Bien Bach are bustling with harvest activity. Amidst the golden hues of ripening rice, joy is evident on the faces of farmers as their batches of freshwater prawns reach harvest time, yielding good productivity and stable prices. This integrated production model is helping farmers become more proactive in their livelihoods and reduce risks compared to the monoculture farming of the past.

Harvesting both prawns and rice simultaneously helps farmers increase their income on the same cultivated area.

Bien Bach commune currently has over 9,000 hectares of land dedicated to rice-shrimp farming. During the freshwater season, farmers plant rice and raise freshwater prawns naturally, utilizing the existing ecosystem in the rice paddies. Without using antibiotics or chemicals, the prawns thrive in clean water, with a farming period of approximately 5 months. When the rice begins to ripen and the water level in the fields recedes, farmers harvest the prawns, concluding a successful rice-shrimp farming season.

Currently harvesting rice in his 27-acre rice paddies combined with raising freshwater prawns, Mr. Le Van Nho happily reported that his family harvested over 400 kg of prawns this season, in addition to a stable rice yield. After deducting expenses, the profit was quite good, much higher than monoculture rice farming. "Raising prawns in rice paddies is less costly and has lower risks. The prawns are healthy and less prone to disease, and the rice also grows better," Mr. Nho shared.

Prawns are currently being purchased by traders at a relatively high price, ranging from 90,000 to 120,000 VND per kilogram.

In reality, the rice-prawn farming model offers many outstanding benefits. During their growth, prawns help to loosen the bottom mud, reducing pests and diseases; their waste becomes a natural source of nutrients for the rice plants. As a result, farmers significantly reduce the amount of fertilizer and pesticides used, contributing to improved farming environments, enhanced agricultural product quality, and protection of the field ecosystem.

According to local statistics, farmers can earn an average profit of 60-80 million VND per hectare per year from rice-shrimp farming. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Bien Bach commune, said that in recent years, the locality has encouraged people to expand the area of ​​intercropping giant freshwater prawns in rice fields, considering this a suitable production direction given the seasonal salinity conditions.

“ The rice-shrimp farming model, especially the integrated farming of giant freshwater prawns, is opening up an effective and sustainable development direction for farmers. Making good use of natural conditions not only helps increase income but also contributes to protecting the production ecosystem.”

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai commented.

Beyond immediate economic benefits, the rice-prawn farming model is gradually changing farmers' production practices towards safer and more environmentally friendly methods. Limiting the use of chemicals helps protect water resources, improve soil quality, and enhance the quality of agricultural products, meeting the increasingly high demands of the market.

Not only in Bien Bach, but currently the entire Ca Mau province has more than 90,000 hectares producing under the rice-shrimp farming model. In the context of the agricultural sector shifting strongly from a production-oriented mindset to an agricultural economic mindset, the rice-shrimp farming model in Bien Bach is considered a vivid example of the "harmonious with nature" approach – proactively adapting to natural conditions, rationally exploiting resources, increasing value per unit area, contributing to sustainable agricultural development, and enhancing adaptability to climate change.

Huyen Trang - Duyen Hai

Source: https://baocamau.vn/mot-ruong-hai-mua-thu-hoach-a125693.html