Raising ornamental fish becomes a "hot" profession in Ho Chi Minh City

Ornamental fish is identified as one of the six key product groups of Ho Chi Minh City. This profession is being built by Ho Chi Minh City into an effective economic model for urban agricultural production.

Raising ornamental fish becomes a "hot" profession in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is rapidly urbanizing, and agricultural production areas are increasingly shrinking. Therefore, the City has identified urban agricultural development as an inevitable step to create high-value, effective products and ensure sustainable development. Ho Chi Minh City's agricultural sector is focusing on developing 6 key plants and animals including: vegetables, ornamental flowers, dairy cows (breeding animals, milk), pigs (breeding animals, meat), brackish water shrimp and ornamental fish (identified as potential products). In addition, medicinal plants, giant freshwater prawns, and aquatic specialties are being developed. In particular, the ornamental fish farming model not only brings high income to people but also contributes to improving the quality of life and reducing environmental pressure.

In recent years, ornamental fish farming in Ho Chi Minh City has been developing strongly and diversifying with more than 70 species. Of which, the main species include more than 50 species of breeding and 20 species of wild exploitation domesticated as ornamental fish. The dominant species are Japanese carp, guppies, orchids, discus, Siamese fighting fish, phoenix, fairy, four-cloud, red gold, black gold, platinum... People mainly raise them in forms such as glass tanks, cement tanks lined with canvas, ponds, jars, pots, basins, etc.

Ornamental fish farming in Ho Chi Minh City is developing strongly and diversifying with more than 70 species.

Currently, ornamental fish are mainly raised in some districts such as Binh Chanh, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, Thu Duc, District 8, District 9, District 12, Go Vap. Of which, Binh Chanh and Cu Chi districts account for about 80%. This is an area with a large agricultural land area, in which the water surface area for aquaculture is increasing and the Dong canal water system (in Cu Chi) is invested to develop agriculture. Fish farms in Ho Chi Minh City not only supply the domestic market but also export to many countries such as Japan, Korea and China.

Ornamental fish farming techniques are still new and very different from traditional farming techniques of farmers. Therefore, new farmers or those who want to develop new farming methods need support from many sides, including agricultural extension. In order to support farmers and contribute to the implementation of the City's Ornamental Fish Program, Agricultural Extension must continuously grasp the needs of farmers to provide timely support in farming techniques, distribution channels and also boldly encourage farmers to change their occupations, such as switching from ineffective fish farming to ornamental fish farming.

Many farmers in Ho Chi Minh City have changed their lives thanks to raising ornamental fish.

The economic efficiency of ornamental fish farming models is very suitable for urban agriculture and is increasingly attracting the attention of many farmers. The center continues to promote the farming objects that have had a market and the experience of farmers in the districts in recent times such as raising ornamental fish in ponds (koi fish) and raising ornamental fish for reproduction (discus fish)...

"Miraculous plan" to elevate the ornamental fish farming profession

To continue implementing agricultural extension activities closely following the industry's policies and orientations, the City meets the current new tasks and requirements for agricultural development. Ho Chi Minh City is a special urban agriculture, in which special development is made in seed production, high-tech agriculture, circular agriculture, organic agriculture and enhancing tasks of linking agricultural production in the direction of consulting, agricultural extension services...

The City Agricultural Extension Center continues to advise the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to submit to the City People's Committee for approval of Decision No. 64/2024/QD-UBND dated September 20, 2024 on promulgating economic and technical norms on agricultural extension in Ho Chi Minh City, replacing Decision No. 03/2021/QD-UBND dated January 26, 2021 on promulgating economic and technical norms on agricultural extension in Ho Chi Minh City.

Thereby, the Center continues to update and supplement new ornamental fish farming models, meeting the production needs of people, businesses and the market such as: Indian red-eye fish breeding model, Triangle fish breeding model, freshwater ornamental fish breeding model, Siamese fighting fish production, neon fish phenotype production, guppies production by sex conversion method using hormones, etc.

To continue developing ornamental fish farming in the City, bringing many values to the agricultural sector in general and the aquaculture sector in particular, the Center offers solutions to contribute to promoting the development of ornamental fish.

Creating product consumption outlets should be a top priority. Therefore, the authorities need to support the construction and development of satellite facilities to increase the output of ornamental fish production to directly supply to export enterprises, which are the focal points for ornamental fish consumption for households and ornamental fish farms in the city. Organizing links and signing agreements between production and consumption, between enterprises and farming households and farms; mobilizing the conversion of large-scale farms into enterprises, so that ornamental fish have better conditions to develop.

Agricultural Extension Centers need to support technical solutions in ornamental fish farming.

In addition, ornamental fish facility owners are bold in investing in upgrading infrastructure, expanding production scale according to good management practices in ornamental fish production (GMPs) and applying scientific advances in ornamental fish production and breeding activities to improve the output and quality of ornamental fish to serve the domestic and export markets.

In the coming time, the agricultural extension sector will support technical solutions in ornamental fish farming: Design of ponds, lakes; cement tanks, composite tanks; water treatment techniques... to raise and nurture fish. Support the development of additional services for ornamental fish such as: glass tanks, aquatic plants, water treatment equipment, food, aerators, fish care services...

At the same time, farmers need initial support in ornamental fish breeds for new households to develop and convert other crops and livestock to ornamental fish farming.

In the digital age, the Agricultural Extension Center needs to strengthen the promotion and branding of ornamental fish in Ho Chi Minh City through conferences, fairs, exhibitions, websites, brochures, etc.

Source: https://danviet.vn/nuoi-ca-canh-thanh-nghe-hot-o-tphcm-20241217143021027.htm