Currently, aquaculture farmers in the coastal areas of Kim Son district are actively preparing for the main aquaculture season of the year. This not only creates a proactive approach to the farming process but also helps to limit disease outbreaks, increase productivity, and boost income for the people.
Upgrade ponds and lakes, and shift strongly towards intensive farming.
On an area of 1 hectare, Mr. Pham Van Hao, from Hamlet 6, Kim Trung Commune (Kim Son District), has boldly invested billions of VND to renovate and comprehensively plan the system of ponds and auxiliary facilities to serve the production of oyster spat combined with shrimp breeding.
Mr. Hao shared: "Years of production experience have shown that if we raise fish using extensive methods, the risks are very high. The fish are easily infected with diseases, and the quality and size are not uniform... Therefore, even with a small initial investment, the profit is not significant. That's why I decided to invest in upgrading the ponds, improving the water and environmental treatment systems to produce intensively and minimize disease outbreaks. Everything is ready; we're just waiting for favorable weather to start production."
Just like Mr. Hao, at this time, Mr. Trinh Dinh Tu in Block 10, Binh Minh town, is also busily preparing for a new shrimp farming season. Taking advantage of the dry weather, Mr. Tu hired extra workers to clean the ponds. Mr. Tu said: After each shrimp farming season, during the care process, excess feed, waste, and pathogens accumulate at the bottom and banks of the pond, polluting the pond environment. If not properly cleaned and treated, it is very easy for diseases to break out in the next shrimp crop.
Therefore, after each farming cycle, I renovate the ponds by draining the water, spraying and washing away algae and grime around the banks, then soaking them in disinfectant chemicals, and even cleaning the pipes. Along with that, I maintain, repair, and install the necessary equipment for shrimp farming. "Nowadays, shrimp farming can't be left to chance, because the weather and environmental conditions are becoming increasingly harsh. We have to upgrade the ponds, buy advanced equipment, and constantly learn and apply new technical advancements to care for and prevent diseases in shrimp. For example, my family used to have only earthen ponds, but now we've upgraded to 7 raised ponds covered with tarpaulin and roofs. Thanks to this, we can farm shrimp year-round, and the success rate is much higher," Mr. Tú shared.
In the coastal communes of Kim Son district, not only the families of Mr. Hao and Mr. Tu, but also many other aquaculture households are trending towards investing heavily to upgrade ponds and switch to intensive and super-intensive shrimp farming methods.
According to information from the Fisheries Sub-Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: In 2023, the area for intensive and semi-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming increased to over 300 hectares, including 75 hectares of super-intensive farming.
Strengthen environmental monitoring and strictly control breeding stock.
According to the plan, the total area for brackish water aquaculture in Kim Son district during the Spring-Summer season is 2,146.4 hectares. Of this: 1,451.9 hectares are for improved extensive farming of tiger shrimp and brackish water fish; 340 hectares are for intensive and semi-intensive farming of whiteleg shrimp; and 354.5 hectares are for clam and oyster seed production.
Regarding the stocking schedule, for tiger shrimp, the nursery period will begin from March 15th to March 31st, 2024. Depending on the weather, the stocking of tiger shrimp for commercial farming will begin around April 1st, 2024.
For whiteleg shrimp, stocking begins from April to May. However, ponds with covers that maintain temperature, have adequate infrastructure, and good control over environmental factors can be used for farming through the winter.
The Fisheries Sub-Department advises that, for a successful new season, aquaculture farmers need to strictly adhere to technical procedures during the farming process. This includes, in particular, pond renovation and sanitation; selecting and purchasing fry from reputable sources with quality quarantine certificates from competent authorities; raising and using larger fry for commercial farming; strengthening environmental management and disease prevention; and choosing feed suitable for each species and growth stage; avoiding the use of stimulants, chemicals, and banned antibiotics in aquaculture.
Mr. Pham Van Hai, Head of the Fisheries Inspection Station (Fisheries Sub-Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), said: "Since the end of 2023, the unit has proactively coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kim Son district and the authorities of communes and towns to monitor the situation and progress of pond and lagoon renovation; regularly conducting monitoring and taking water samples in aquaculture areas to guide people in using the best quality water for their ponds and lagoons. In addition, we have organized training courses on aquaculture techniques and disseminated seasonal schedules to hundreds of farmers."
Proper preparation of ponds, lagoons, and farming areas, ensuring the quality of fry, and strictly adhering to technical procedures as guided by specialized agencies are crucial initial steps for a successful spring-summer aquaculture season, contributing to increased income for local people.
Nguyen Luu
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