Efficiency from model of VietGAP Tilapia farming associated with consumption (08-06-2018)
After 6 months, the model of VietGAP tilapia farming associated with consumption have brought high productivity and profit of over VND 69 million /hectare, from VND 10-15 million /hectare higher than traditional model. Before harvesting, Ponds need changing water and stop feeding for 2-3 days to ensure the good quality of the fish.
Tilapia showed a huge potential as far as the consumption for domestic and export, hence, attracting researches in Quang Ninh province. Therefore, tilapia farming areas in the province is continuously expanded with advanced farming form. However, the production of tilapia has faced many difficulties and challenges such as lack of market, low price of raw materials, and low product quality. Those challenges were caused by the locality spontaneous farming, a lack of orientation, quality of fingerlings is not guaranteed while the cost of fingerling and materials are high; Polluted environment affects quality and safety of products; Farmers lack knowledge about advanced farming techniques.
In 2017, Quang Ninh was approved to implement the project "model of VietGAP tilapia farming sssociated with consumption". This project could take advantage of aquaculture development while create a linkage between farmers and enterprises.In order to ensure the economic and technical indicators of the model, the Agricultural Extension Center of Quang Ninh province (AEC) has actively coordinated with the other units to set up criteria for selection of households to meet the requirements of the planning area, reciprocal capital, technical ability, and commitment to improve pond system as required . Thereby, three (3) households have been identified and selected in Yen Thanh and Uong Bi district. AEC also arranged technical staff to follow up, organize technical training for 20 households on planning and managing according to VietGAP standards. Technical procedures in the model from pond preparation, water treatment to stocking were followed tightly by the households. Fingerlings were purchased at reputable establishments, with stocking density of 3 fishes/m2. Vitamin C and Effective Microorganism were supplemented during the culturing process to increase the resistance and digestive for fish.
The fish had a survival rate of 70%, the average size of harvested fish was 750g / fish, yield at 15.7 tons/ha after six (6) months. Regarding the VietGAP indicators, the participating households have complied with the VietGAP technical regulations and met the criteria. Therefore, the model has reduced the disease, environmental pollutions, and as far as contributes to minimized the use of drugs and chemicals to ensure food safety. During the implementation process, the AEC has assists farmers from Hoa Phong Cooperative with high Quality Agricultural Services as a partner to buy all products from the model. According to Director of Hoa Phong Cooperative, the organization has signed the contract to consume all the fish as their product has meet the requirements of food safety. In addition to that, the food was also served for workers and local people in the whole Province.
It was clearly that the model of VietGAP tilapia farming associated with consumption was very successful. It helped to open a new development direction that would contribute to the high economic efficiency and the environmental improvement. Moreover, the concept model can contribute to change the farmers’ line of thinking about sustainable aquaculture; it would help farmers to mastermind the farming process by adopting the criteria as VietGAP. In the coming years, the National AEC, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and relevant authorities should continue to work together in order to create favorable conditions for farmers to expand production, create safe products, clear origin; support the trademark registration, create chain link production, and finally, to contribute towards the improvement of economic efficiency.
Le Mai