In 2022, the output of farmed shrimp harvested according to the shrimp-rice production model of Kien Giang province is more than 61.310 tons, accounting for 55% of the province's farmed shrimp output. In addition to shrimp, farmers also collect hundreds of thousands of tons of rice for consumption and processing for export.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang province, from the beginning of 2023 until now, the province has produced more than 106.000 hectares of shrimp and rice, reaching 98% of the plan, and the harvested output is over 30.000 tons.
Some farmers in the province's key shrimp-rice production areas think that this is a smart agricultural production model that brings two main economic benefits, shrimp and rice, and contributes to improving the soil and environment. Natural ecology and response to climate change are increasingly complicated.
Mr. Le Van Hai, living in Thanh Hoa hamlet, Dong Thanh commune, An Minh district (Kien Giang), a member of Thanh Hoa cooperative said: “Since Thanh Hoa Cooperative was established, shrimp-rice production has been developed. very effective, helping farmers get out of poverty, get rich and get rich. My family produces 3 hectares of shrimp - rice and combines with crab farming. Annual shrimp harvest average 400-500kg/ha and 5-6 tons of rice/ha, profit 300-400 million VND/year. Shrimp and rice harvested are clean and high-quality products that are ordered by enterprises to be purchased, processed, and exported.
Farmers in Thanh Hoa hamlet, Dong Thanh commune (An Minh) harvest farmed shrimp.
According to Mr. Hai, for efficient production, Thanh Hoa Cooperative regularly organizes on-site seminars with the participation of engineers and technical staff of the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Cooperative members exchange and share experiences in the process of shrimp farming, rice cultivation, combined with professional guidance of technical staff, transferring farming processes to apply in actual production.
On the other hand, the cooperative organizes training, technical guidance, direct visits to effective shrimp-rice production models for members to learn from experience.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Anh - Director of Thanh Hoa Cooperative said that the total area of shrimp-rice production of the cooperative is more than 80ha. Shrimp farming is almost natural ecological farming, using only probiotics in pond improvement and water treatment.
To grow rice, choose high-quality varieties, do not use plant protection drugs, so the product is clean and good quality. In the process of shrimp-rice production, cooperative members also intercropped with crabs and giant freshwater prawns to increase their income.
However, the difficulty of Kien Giang farmers in shrimp-rice production is that the prices of shrimp and rice are often unstable; prices of agricultural materials, gasoline and oil increased. Many places lack an electric irrigation pump system. Mr. Nguyen Viet Anh said that in order for the shrimp-rice model to produce sustainable and effective, it is necessary to stabilize the shrimp price at 200.000 VND/kg (30 pieces/kg), about 180.000 VND/kg (more than 30 pieces/kg). ) and the price of rice is 9.000-10.000 VND/kg, the farmers will have a good profit.
Striving to 2030, with a vision to 2045, Kien Giang develops fisheries to become an important economic sector of the province, in which developing shrimp-rice production in the direction of safety, sustainability and efficiency. with climate change. According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kien Giang has set a goal by 2030 to stabilize the shrimp-rice production area of 117.340 hectares, the shrimp output from 70.675 tons or more, accounting for about 45% of the total harvested shrimp production. whole province.
Deputy Director in charge of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Kien Giang Province Quang Trong Thao said that in the past time, for the rice growing area that is inefficient or does not have enough water for irrigation, the province encourages farmers to switch to the shrimp-rice model. This model has been effective for producers, from an average income of about 50 million VND/ha, increasing to 100-130 million VND/ha.
“The province continues to encourage farmers to switch to developing this shrimp-rice model for rice areas affected by saline intrusion for 3 months or more, suitable for each ecological region in the province. Along with that, focus on promoting the increase of aquaculture output per unit area through the application of scientific and technological advances, forms of production linkages towards sustainable development and adaptation to changes. climate," said Comrade Quang Trong Thao.
Continuing to develop the shrimp-rice model, Kien Giang will organize production according to the product value chain, from seed, input materials, commercial farming to processing and consuming shrimp and rice products. The province consolidates, consolidates, establishes and develops forms of production organization such as cooperative groups and cooperatives associated with linking production enterprises along value chains in key shrimp-rice production areas. in order to improve competitiveness, trace product origin, protect the ecological environment, adapt to climate change.
At the same time, Kien Giang province continues to review the status of rice land in An Bien, An Minh, U Minh Thuong, Vinh Thuan districts and other areas affected by saline intrusion to convert production rice-shrimp production or brackish water shrimp farming. Develop shrimp and rice production according to VietGAP standards, organic aquaculture, ecological farming, etc., according to the requirements of export markets, using barcodes and codes to trace the origin of farmed products and farming areas. shrimp.
Guide farmers on new and advanced techniques and technologies associated with disease safety, environmental protection, and food safety. Concentrating resources to complete investment in irrigation, transportation, and electricity systems for key aquaculture in the Long Xuyen and U Minh Thuong quadrangle...
Articles and photos: LE HUY HAI
