On the morning of July 16, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) held an online conference with 28 coastal provinces and cities to discuss solutions for shrimp industry development in 2021 and implement Decision No. 339/QD-TTg dated March 11, 2021 of the Prime Minister on approving the Vietnam Fisheries Development Strategy to 2030, vision to 2045. Deputy Minister of MARD Phung Duc Tien chaired the conference at the Hanoi bridge.
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien speaks at the conference
According to the report of the Directorate of Fisheries, in the first months of 2020, the implementation of brackish water shrimp production faced many difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic and saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta region, leading to brackish water shrimp output being affected, especially in the extensive black tiger shrimp farming area. By the end of 2020, brackish water shrimp production had recovered when the Covid-19 epidemic was controlled, and brackish water shrimp exports were restored.
In 2020, the shrimp farming area reached 742,483 hectares, equal to 104.2% compared to 2019, of which the tiger shrimp farming area was 629,065 hectares, white-leg shrimp was 113,418 hectares; the harvested output reached 900,000 tons, up 12% over the same period in 2019. Export turnover reached 3.7 billion USD, up 11% over the same period in 2019.
Assessing the current status of the shrimp industry in the first 6 months of the year, the Directorate of Fisheries said that the estimated shrimp seed output reached 55 billion; Of which, white-leg shrimp was 40.7 billion, black tiger shrimp was 14.3 billion (equal to 109% compared to the same period in 2020). Regarding the results of commercial shrimp farming and export, brackish water shrimp output reached 371 thousand tons (up 12% over the same period in 2020), of which black tiger shrimp output reached 113 thousand tons, white-leg shrimp reached 258 thousand tons. Estimated shrimp export turnover in the past 6 months reached 1.5 billion USD; of which, black tiger shrimp reached 200 million USD, white-leg shrimp reached 1.3 billion USD. According to the brackish water shrimp farming development plan, this year the demand for parent shrimp is about 260,000 shrimp; the whole country maintains and stably develops the brackish water shrimp farming area of 740 thousand hectares; shrimp output of all kinds reached 980 thousand tons, shrimp export turnover reached 3.8-4.0 billion USD.
At the Conference, along with the implementation of Decision 339/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on approving the Vietnam Fisheries Development Strategy to 2030, vision to 2045; delegates focused on assessing the current status of shrimp export results in 2020 and forecasting the shrimp consumption market in 2021; pointing out the advantages and difficulties, discussing solutions to overcome and take advantage of opportunities to maintain stable development of the shrimp industry in the new situation; quality control, chemical residues, antibiotics in brackish water shrimp; solutions for shrimp farming development in 2021; some technical advances in seed production and brackish water shrimp farming...
Conference overview
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said: In 2021, the Vietnamese shrimp industry continues to face many difficulties and challenges such as drought, saltwater intrusion; unusual weather and climate, potential risks, the risk of disease outbreaks; the development of the Covid-19 pandemic and unpredictable international trade competition. However, besides the difficulties and challenges, our shrimp industry has opportunities with a foundation of potential, natural advantages, with a team of enterprises with more than 20 years of experience from production to processing and export. The determination to participate synchronously of the entire political system from the Government, ministries, branches, local authorities to enterprises and people will continue to create momentum for production development. In particular, the free trade agreements signed by Vietnam will expand market opportunities for products, especially shrimp and pangasius.
“I would like to take this opportunity for you to firmly grasp and closely follow the viewpoints, orientations and objectives of the Vietnam Fisheries Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, to direct and develop local fisheries production in accordance with the orientations set by the Government and the Prime Minister,” Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized.
To achieve the “dual goals” of the fisheries sector, including the shrimp sector, we need to make more efforts and be more determined. Therefore, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said that the first goal we need to strive for is to maintain good output and provide high-quality raw materials for processing. This is an important factor because the fisheries sector is easily affected by the weather, especially in the current situation of drought, saline intrusion, climate change and fierce competition in import markets. The next goal is to address existing issues in the linkage chain such as production organization, processing, market maintenance and development strategies.
Concluding the conference, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien requested localities to effectively implement the brackish water shrimp production plan in 2021; direct the implementation of regulations on farming conditions and registration of key farming species. At the same time, strengthen information, propaganda, and transfer of science and technology to replicate 2- and 3-phase farming models, farming using biological products, closed-loop farming, biosafety shrimp farming, high-tech farming... and effective production linkage models to help farmers and businesses reduce losses and proactively produce. Provinces and cities need to effectively monitor and warn the environment to promptly advise farmers; guide disease prevention measures, effectively implement technical solutions for effective shrimp farming, and minimize losses for farmers.
According to Bô Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn