Fish farming area on Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Reservoir of Cuong Thinh Construction and Service Company Limited.
Hoa Binh Lake, with a length of over 230 km and a capacity of up to 9.5 billion m3 of water, is the largest artificial lake in Vietnam. This is not only an important national hydroelectric project, but also a clean water area for aquaculture. Special fish species in this lake such as catfish, silver carp, catfish, green dam fish, black carp, catfish, etc. have become a food source bringing economic value to the whole Hoa Binh province and many neighboring areas.
CREATE STABLE JOBS FOR WORKERS
On the rippling water surface of Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Reservoir is the aquaculture area of Cuong Thinh Construction and Service Company Limited, a pioneer in cage fish farming according to VietGAP standards in Hoa Binh Province. Since 2013, with a focus on research, investment and exploitation of aquatic products in the Da River Reservoir, the Company has invested in the aquaculture sector under the brand name Cuong Thinh Fish.
With an initial scale of 20 cages, up to now, the company has developed about 250 fish cages meeting VietGAP standards with special fish species of high economic value such as: catfish, green dam, catfish, black carp, tilapia, red tilapia, common carp... and other types of fish. The aquaculture farm here is creating jobs for more than 20 workers, with an average income of 8 - 12 million VND/person/month.
"Because the water in the lake is clean and naturally circulates, the net system in the cage must be disinfected every 8-10 days with a spray or lime. After 3 years, the fish can reach a weight of 10-15 kg for black carp and 5-10 kg for catfish."
Ms. Bui Thi Luu, who takes care of the fish cages at Cuong Thinh Fish.
Ms. Bui Thi Luu, who takes care of the fish cages at Cuong Thinh Fish, said that on average, each cage will release 4,000 - 5,000 fish fry. After 3 months, the school will be separated into other rafts with a quantity of 1,000 fish/cage. Every day in the late afternoon, she feeds the fish, the main food is grass and a mixture of bran made from dried and crushed shrimp, so the quality of the fish meat is delicious and firm.
At this fish farm, labor is divided into tasks, one person feeds, one catches fish, one fixes cages,... everyone is excited and enthusiastic about their work. According to Mr. Ha Cong Huong (an experienced fish cage farmer), the fish cage farmer sticks to the lake surface all year round, making friends with the fish. The only joy after a day of work is watching the fish grow. Thanks to the natural flow of the Da River and abundant food sources, the fish in the cages here have firm, delicious meat.
“My wife and I have been on the lake for 9 years now, raising fish in cages for Cuong Thinh Fish Company. Our daily work is to feed the fish in the early morning, then check the cages, repair and reinforce those that show signs of damage, ensuring the most solidity and safety. This job brings the family a stable income, ensuring their lives. After many years of saving and with the support of the company, the family has now built a house in the countryside,” Mr. Huong excitedly shared.
Ms. Bui Thi Luu, Mr. Huong's wife, added that from May to July is the best time for fish to grow, and from July to November is the flood season, the thorn trees on the banks rot, contaminate the water source, and the fish are susceptible to disease. To ensure the best living environment for the fish, the cages must be cleaned regularly and disinfected with lime powder twice a month.
“Fish farming is not just a way to make a living, but also a passion for the job. If I didn’t love the fish and feel happy watching them grow day by day, I probably wouldn’t have chosen this job,” Ms. Luu said.
According to Ms. Bui Thi Muon, Manager of Cuong Thinh Fish Farm, most of the people working at the fish farm are unskilled workers from districts in Hoa Binh province. When recruiting, the company will open a technical training course, disseminating knowledge about cage fish farming to these people. When working, they will have a stable income, the regime is guaranteed, so many people have been attached to the fish farming profession for a long time.
STRICT FARMING PROCESS, GAP STANDARDS
Mr. Pham Van Thinh, Director of Cuong Thinh Construction and Service Company Limited, Vice President of the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Hoa Binh Province, shared his “fate” with fish. Born and raised next to the Da River, the idea of developing fish farming has been brewing for a long time. He realized that the lake is a very clean water environment with many natural food sources.
“With the desire to develop and expand quality fish varieties as well as to let the majority of people know and have access to high-quality fish sources, I started building a model of raising fish varieties in Hoa Binh Lake. From having no knowledge about fish, I learned by myself from books, from people and experts in the industry. Up to now, after many difficulties, I have built the brand of “Da River fish”, Mr. Thinh shared.
"Currently, Cuong Thinh Fish's main consumer market is Hanoi, with main partners being large supermarket chains such as: Big C North, Winmart, Lotte... and large restaurants."
Mr. Pham Van Thinh, Director of Cuong Thinh Construction and Service Company Limited.
At first, the company experimented with raising about 20 to 30 cages. Due to its effectiveness, the number of fish cages in the company increased every year. Up to now, the company is raising about 240 fish cages with more than 10 different types of fish, including many specialty fish such as green dam, lang, chien...
According to Mr. Thinh, bringing fish to penetrate supermarkets is not a simple task. “When I first started raising fish, I struggled to find a place to sell them. Fortunately, through trade promotion channels and market research, I met partners with large consumption needs, which are supermarket systems. I also determined that bringing fish to supermarket shelves would also face many difficulties, because the control is very strict, so the company also proactively produces commercial fish according to clean processes, ensuring the water environment, thus meeting the requirements of partners,” Mr. Thinh affirmed.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
To gradually make Cuong Thinh Fish the number 1 brand in Vietnam in the field of freshwater fish farming, from the very beginning, the company has built Da River fish products that meet the quality standards of Vietnam Standards, VietGAP... bringing customers clean, delicious fish with superior quality, meeting food safety standards.
"Cuong Thinh Fish's upcoming strategy is to develop Da River fish products into export products on par with tra and basa fish, contributing to making Hoa Binh a large fish farm in the North. We hope that Da River fish will not only be a specialty of Hoa Binh but also become a famous brand in the international market."
Mr. Pham Van Thinh, Director of Cuong Thinh Construction and Service Company Limited.
Cuong Thinh Fish's Da River black catfish fillet and Da River tilapia fillet products were recognized by the People's Committee of Hoa Binh province as 4-star OCOP products in 2019.
Not only focusing on fish farming at the farm, Cuong Thinh Fish also cooperates with more than 20 households in the Da River lake area to develop the scale of cage fish farming and ensure stable output products. This cooperation helps reduce intermediaries and protect the interests of consumers, while helping households improve their income and quality of life.
“Observing the current market, we see many fish farmers importing fish from other places to “temporarily reside” in the Da River and then selling them after only a few days. This is unfair competition, showing the appearance of “fish washers”, snatching the brand name of Da River fish, and committing fraud when trading fish of unknown origin. As for Cuong Thinh Fish, we only supply the market with fish that are truly grown in Da River, with a minimum commercial age of 3 years or more. We are committed to bringing value, quality and satisfaction to consumers,” Mr. Thinh affirmed.
Currently, Cuong Thinh Fish raises and sells about 600 - 700 tons of seafood per year, of which specialty fish output accounts for about 20-25%.
The potential for fish farming in the Hoa Binh hydroelectric reservoir is still great, but the output of commercial fish supplied to large markets such as Hanoi is still modest. Specialty fish such as black carp, although selling for about 300,000 VND/kg, is not enough to sell. Cuong Thinh Fish aims to become the leading brand in Vietnam in the field of freshwater fish farming by 2025, providing Da River fish products of international quality...
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