Da Giang ECO Cooperative - a step forward in clean aquaculture and seafood processing

Tourists visit VietGAP standard fish cages at Da Giang ECO Cooperative.

Da Giang ECO Cooperative has implemented fish cage farming in Tien Phong commune (Da Bac) with a scale of 40 cages meeting VietGAP standards, with an estimated output of 60 tons/exploitation cycle. In addition, the Cooperative has 60 satellite cages managed by associated households, providing about 60 tons of fish per year. The main fish species include: black catfish, black carp, and silver carp... In addition, the Cooperative has experimented with raising specialty species such as sea bass and silver carp to diversify products, targeting the clean food consumer segment in big cities.

Up to now, Da Giang ECO has cooperated with 45 households to raise fish according to strict technical processes, each household supplying 1.5 tons of fish/year. Not only stopping at raising fish, the Cooperative also processes black catfish fillets, Da River catfish, dried black carp with mac khen, braised fish in clay pots... all of which have achieved 3-star OCOP certification, recognized as typical rural industrial products of Hoa Binh province in 2024. The Cooperative participates in the safe food supply chain, is granted the right to use the "Da River Fish and Shrimp" trademark and ensures quality through periodic inspection and sampling.

With the goal of bringing clean Da River fish products closer to consumers, Da Giang ECO Cooperative has built its own brand and is in the process of waiting for trademark protection. The unit also proactively cooperates with clean food stores in Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, Ninh Binh, Vinh Phuc, Bac Giang, Viet Tri... to distribute products. At the same time, the Cooperative strongly exploits online sales channels, promoting communication on digital platforms to reach customers more widely.

Currently, the cooperative creates stable jobs for 7 direct workers and 4 indirect workers with an average income of 7 million VND/person/month. In 2024, the cooperative's revenue will reach 3.2 billion VND, an impressive figure for a unit that has only been operating for a short time.

Mr. Xa Ngoc Hung, Director of Da Giang ECO Cooperative, shared: "The main goal of the Cooperative is to develop the community in Da Bac. This comes from the fact that there is a large quantity of caged fish here but the price is often forced down, although the quality of the fish is good and the taste is delicious, the price cannot be high. Besides, there are also many units that bring fish from downstream to "bathe" in the Da River water, causing the Da River fish brand to decline. The Cooperative really wants to restore and bring the Da River fish brand further, and when mentioning delicious fish, people immediately think of Da River fish."

In 2025, Da Giang ECO Cooperative aims to expand its linkage with satellite farming households, increasing the total number of cages to 100, with an expected output of 120 tons of fish per year. The Cooperative also focuses on vocational training, improving processing techniques, expanding the product portfolio not only from fish but also from local agricultural products, targeting potential markets in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

One of the new directions of the cooperative is to develop an eco-tourism model combining the experience of the Da River reservoir and enjoying clean fish. This is not only an opportunity to promote the brand, but also helps to increase the value of the product, attract tourists and expand the output for local seafood products.

With its continuous efforts, Da Giang ECO Cooperative has been recognized with many achievements in 2024 such as: Certificate of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for outstanding achievements in the patriotic emulation movement and application of science and technology in cage fish farming and seafood processing; certified as a typical advanced model at the provincial level in the field of science and technology...

Da Giang ECO Cooperative is increasingly asserting its position in the field of clean aquaculture and processing of seafood. With a methodical approach, a strategy to expand production and develop ecotourism, the Cooperative promises to continue to reap success, contributing to promoting the local economy and enhancing the brand of clean fish from the Da River in the domestic market.

La Hung

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/12/199923/Hop-tac-xa-Da-Giang-ECO-buoc-tien-tr111ng-nuoi-trong-va-che-bien-thuy-san-sach.htm