Hau Loc exploits the potential of tidal areas for clam farming in an effective and sustainable manner

In recent years, Hau Loc district has proactively exploited the potential and strengths of the tidal zone to cultivate a variety of coastal molluscs such as clams, blood cockles, green mussels, oysters... in which Ben Tre white clams are the main farming species, accounting for 90% of the district's tidal farming output.

Hau Loc exploits the potential of tidal areas for clam farming in an effective and sustainable manner Commercial clam purchasing facility in Hai Loc commune.

By May 2024, Hau Loc district had implemented a plan to raise 570 hectares of clams. In order for clam farming in 2024 and the following years to be highly economically efficient, in a sustainable direction, building the "Hau Loc clam" brand alongside the district's key farmed products such as black tiger shrimp and white-legged shrimp, Hau Loc district has been implementing solutions on planning concentrated clam seed breeding areas, infrastructure suitable for clam seed breeding conditions. Encourage seed production facilities and commercial hatcheries to cooperate, joint venture, and link according to the value chain, seed quality is recognized by competent authorities, and seed must be quarantined and strictly managed before being supplied to farmers. Strengthen state management from the district People's Committee to the communes on conditions for seed production, seed breeding and commercial clam farming. Disseminate widely about seed management, farming area management, inspect, supervise, and strictly handle violations in the production and circulation of clam seeds and materials for clam farming. Regularly monitor the environment to promptly warn farmers. Apply advanced technology, especially biotechnology for clam seed production and commercial farming. Strengthen agricultural extension, training, and timely information recommendations on farming status and new farming techniques for people. Form cooperatives or boards and groups to manage farming areas, strengthen the role of community management, and encourage the establishment of associations on clam seed production, farming and commercial clam farming in Hau Loc to support each other in technical work, logistics services, and promote product consumption. In addition, Hau Loc district and coastal communes propagate and guide people to renovate ponds, farming grounds, and mollusk farming areas every year, stock the right density of seeds, protect the farming environment, etc. to ensure that mollusks grow and develop well, for high and sustainable economic efficiency.

In recent years, despite many environmental disadvantages such as hydrology, waste discharge from production facilities into the estuary affecting growth and development, sometimes causing clams to die, causing great losses to farmers; output and prices were sometimes unstable... but clam farming and clam seed production are still identified as the spearhead in economic development of coastal communes of Hau Loc district, the main farming object and suitable for the locality.

Typically, in Hai Loc commune, by May 2024, the whole commune had more than 200 households raising commercial clams and producing clam seeds with an area of about 171 hectares, the total annual output of commercial clams was more than 2,900 tons, consumed in and outside the province. Thanks to exploiting the potential and strengths of raising coastal mollusks, mainly clams, many households in the commune have escaped poverty, dozens of families have become well-off with profits of hundreds of millions of VND each year. Among them, there are some households earning billions of VND each year, such as Mr. Pham Van Ba's family, raising 10 hectares of commercial clams and producing clam seeds, with a good year's profit of nearly 2 billion VND, creating jobs for about 50 workers; Mr. Vu Van Hoang's family raises 8 hectares of commercial clams, with a good harvest yielding a profit of about 1 billion VND/year and also creating jobs for 40 workers... Not only that, clam farming also creates jobs for more than 20% of the local workforce.

In 2023, Hau Loc district has more than 400 households in the coastal communes of Da Loc, Minh Loc, and Hai Loc raising 570 hectares of clams. The clam output in 2023 of Hau Loc district reached 8,800 tons. Many households in the coastal communes of Hau Loc district not only have a fairly high income from investing in clam farming but also create jobs for many workers in the area, contributing to the sustainable development of the marine economy and new rural development of the coastal district of Hau Loc.

Article and photos: Thu Hoa

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