Ca MauFarmers in the West need to link up to form large rice and shrimp fields, helping revenue and profits increase 10 times.
The opinion was expressed by Mr. Le Van Quang, Chairman of Minh Phu Seafood Company at a conference to mobilize resources to implement agricultural solutions in the Mekong Delta, March 21.
Rice-shrimp production is considered a favorable model to adapt to climate change. Image: An Minh
The rice-shrimp model is a unique form of agricultural cultivation, following nature associated with the tropical monsoon climate of the region. The characteristic of this form is the alternation between the freshwater rainy season and the saltwater dry season, creating suitable ecological conditions for both rice and shrimp to grow.
According to Mr. Quang, rice shrimp farmers do not have to invest much, but the average yield per harvest is 5-8 tons of rice, and 300-1,000 kg of shrimp. Thus, each year, farmers have a minimum income of 250 million VND, an average of 500 million VND, and can reach up to one billion VND per hectare if farming is successful.
“Therefore, farmers need to cooperate to form large fields of 7-10 hectares, creating large sample fields of 1,000-10,000 hectares. Farmers cooperate to form new cooperative groups to help increase revenue. revenue and profit,” Mr. Quang said.
At the conference, Mr. Le Minh Hoan, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that more than 300 years ago, the first steps of farmers from the North into the region were to adapt and practice agriculture according to nature. . People produce models of rice under fish, rice with fish, rice with shrimp, under shrimp in the forest…
“From here, they revived a time in the Southern land. Now we have the task of activating that method and spreading it to create value,” Mr. Hoan said.
Minister Le Minh Hoan spoke at the conference in Ca Mau, March 21. Image: An Minh
According to the report at the conference, in the period 2021-2025, the state budget supports the Mekong Delta with 266,000 billion VND (an increase of 20% compared to the period 2016-2020). Of which, the Central budget is 82,000 billion VND; Local budgets are 162,000 billion VND; Foreign capital (ODA) 22,000 billion VND. Total investment capital in regional agriculture in 2023 will reach about 100,000 billion VND, an increase of 15% compared to 2022.
Orientation for agricultural development in the Mekong Delta until 2030 according to 3 ecological sub-regions: sweet in the upstream and center of the delta; saline – brackish in coastal areas; fresh – brackish transition in the middle of the delta. Based on the transformation of production structure, initially identify agricultural production zones, including safe, transitional and flexible zones.
The Mekong Delta includes 13 provinces and cities with an area of about 4 million hectares; The area of agricultural and aquaculture land is nearly 3 million hectares. This area has potential and competitive advantages in agricultural production, accounting for over 50% of the country; Food exports account for over 90%, fruit and aquatic products account for over 70%.
An Minh