Exploiting the strengths of aquaculture in Ta Phoi

People in Ta Phoi commune (Lao Cai city) have exploited the advantages of pond water surface, converted ineffective rice fields near streams to develop aquaculture, contributing to job creation and income increase.

In recent years, aquaculture in Ta Phoi commune has developed steadily, attracting more and more households to participate.

Mr. Nguyen Van Son's family in Da Dinh 1 village is a pioneer in intensive aquaculture in Ta Phoi commune. Currently, the family has 2 hectares of water surface for aquaculture, divided into 6 ponds. Mr. Son applies the method of raising fish living in different water layers (grass carp, common carp, monosex tilapia, etc.) to take advantage of excess food and limit the outbreak of diseases. Identifying fish farming as the main source of livelihood for his family, he has invested in building a system of canals to lead water from streams to ponds to proactively provide water for livestock farming.

To reduce labor and increase farming efficiency, the family invested in buying aerators, smart pellet guns, and surveillance cameras connected to mobile phones to turn on and off, adjust the appropriate amount of food, and monitor pond developments anywhere, at any time of the day.

Mr. Son said: Taking advantage of the abundant clean water source all year round in the locality, I chose to develop the economy from aquaculture. Thanks to the application of scientific and technical advances in fish farming, it has brought high economic efficiency. On average, each year, the family harvests more than 80 tons of fish, earning more than 3 billion VND, after deducting expenses, the profit is more than 500 million VND.

Mr. Bach Van Tan's family in Da Dinh 2 village currently has 0.5 hectares of water surface with 3 fish ponds. Previously, in this pond area, his family grew rice but it was not effective, so they decided to switch to digging fish ponds. With 3 ponds, on average, Mr. Tan sells more than 20 tons of fish each year, earning nearly 200 million VND in profit.

Ta Phoi commune currently has over 26.5 hectares of water surface for aquaculture, with more than 200 households, concentrated in the villages of Da Dinh 1, Da Dinh 2, Phoi 2, Phoi 3, Coc 2, Cuong, of which 85 households are engaged in intensive farming with pond areas of 1 hectare or more, the total fish output of the commune is estimated at 530 tons/year, with a revenue of more than 21 billion VND. In the highland villages such as Phin Ho, Lang Moi, U Si Sung, Peng... with cool climates and water sources suitable for cold-water fish farming, some households have boldly invested in sturgeon farming, initially showing economic efficiency. Many households have switched from extensive and semi-intensive fish farming to intensive farming; invested in renovating, building and repairing pond systems, applying science and technology to production... bringing high economic efficiency.

To help people develop their economy from aquaculture, the commune has coordinated with specialized sectors to open classes to teach fish farming; provide training and guidance on methods of selecting breeds, techniques of caring for, preventing and controlling diseases for fish; and coordinate with the Social Policy Bank to lend people capital to expand their farming scale.

However, currently, aquaculture development in Ta Phoi commune still faces some difficulties, such as no fish breeding facilities, so the quality and price of fish cannot be controlled; aquaculture areas are small and not concentrated; a chain of links in production and product consumption has not been formed, the output mainly depends on traders, so the selling price is unstable.

Identifying aquaculture as a key direction in the economic restructuring in the locality, Ta Phoi will review the conditions of water resources and land funds of each village to plan suitable aquaculture areas, from which there will be a plan to propagate and encourage households to convert ineffective rice fields to fish ponds. The commune encourages and creates conditions for households to establish aquaculture cooperatives and cooperatives to support knowledge, experience in farming and find stable output for products, contributing to increasing income for people.

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