Specifically, for localities and businesses, the Minister required urgently research and implement tasks and solutions set out in the plan of shrimp industry in 2019; at the same time, strengthen cooperation and linkage in shrimp value chain, considering this as a vital factor to lower costs, improve product’s quality and value. Localities and enterprises need to apply techniques in all stages of production types to achieve the highest efficiency, maintain the ecological environment, create the best value and most sustainable products.
In addition, the Minister asked localities and businesses to enhance the quality control of the entire value chain from seed, feed, aquaculture environmental treatment products, to production and processing processes in order to create products that meet the requirements of the domestic and international markets, improve the ability of traceability and competitiveness for products.
At the same time, businesses should pay more attention to deep processing, taking all advantages of the capacity of existing factories to create high value added, diversified and suitable shrimp products for consumers; continue to develop consumer market by consolidating traditional ones while opening new, too.
Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong also suggested that units under the Ministry should continue to effectively implement the tasks in coordination and support for the shrimp industry to develop sustainably. Specifically, the Minister assigned the Directorate of Fisheries to synthesize proposals and recommendations of localities and enterprises to take measures to handle and promptly settle; assigning the Agro Processing and Market Development Authority to propose immediately solutions to develop shrimp market, especially solutions to develop formal trade to China market.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2018 in the context of rising world supply thanks to good harvest, shrimp prices dropped by 10-30% but Vietnam shrimp industry had timely solutions to respond and stable production, maintaining the growth rate. Thereby, the production of brackish shrimp was over 762,000 tons, up 6.3% compared to 2017, ensuring raw materials for export processing.
In 2019, the shrimp industry is expected to face new challenges such as declined global economic growth, leading to reduced shrimp consumption while shrimp production remains. Climate change and weather are unpredictable such as El nino phenomenon, drought, saline intrusion, etc. can directly affect shrimp production. In addition, the US-China trade war will have an impact on Vietnam's shrimp import markets.
In addition to the challenges, the shrimp industry still has a chance with a foundation of potential and natural advantages such as production, processing and exporting enterprises with more than 20 years of experience, together with the determination to synchronize the whole system from the central to local levels; new and progressive regulations that are consistent with the reality of the 2017 Fisheries Law, etc. will create momentum for development. In addition, the trade agreements that Vietnam has signed that are going in effect in coming time will expand market opportunities for shrimp products.
Huong Tra