Flooded fields, how do Soc Trang people raise fish in rice fields that as soon as they catch them, they sell out?

In some low-lying areas in Soc Trang province, water is rising and overflowing the fields (commonly known as the flood season). Many farmers do not grow rice but instead cover their fields with nets to raise fish naturally.

This model of raising fish in the field is called cage farming (fish management in the field) and has had quite stable economic efficiency in recent years.

Looking at 30 hectares of rice fields filled with water, flooded banks and surrounded by nets, Mr. Le Van Thuong in My Thanh hamlet, My Tu commune, My Tu district (Soc Trang province) said that he has been doing this model of raising fish in cages on rice fields for about 5 years now.

At the end of the Summer-Autumn rice crop, when the water overflows the fields (flood season), he begins to cover the fields with nets to keep the wild fish alive.

In addition to the natural freshwater fish in the rice fields, he also released 10 kg of climbing perch and 10 kg of silver carp to increase the yield of rice field fish.

In addition, he also raises hundreds of ducks. Mr. Thuong said that from this model of raising fish in cages combined with raising ducks, he earns an income of over 40 million VND per crop.

“I find this net-pen fish farming model very effective, farmers do not have to abandon their land during the Fall-Winter crop.

I have been raising this crop of freshwater fish for 3 months now, each fish probably weighs 1kg for bighead carp. There are many freshwater fish. When it is time to plant the winter-spring rice crop, I will harvest the freshwater fish to sell," Mr. Thuong added.

Raising fish in cages during the flood season is quite popular in low-lying areas of Soc Trang province. Photo by Huy Minh.

My Tu commune, My Tu district (Soc Trang province) has a low-lying terrain. After the summer-autumn rice harvest, around August, water starts to flow from upstream and combines with the rain, the water rises and floods the fields, so people here often abandon their fields and do not grow rice. The flood season usually lasts from August to November.

In recent years, to exploit natural aquatic resources in the fields, people have invested in buying nets to surround the fields and implement a model of raising fish in cages. This method helps people earn income while waiting for the water to recede to produce winter-spring rice.

From the first few households, the model of raising fish in cages has now developed in almost all hamlets in My Tu commune.

For example, in My Hoa hamlet, people have long left their fields unproductive during the flood season. But in the past two years, after visiting and learning about the economic efficiency of the fish farming model in cages, last year a few households joined together to implement the model.

Mr. Pham Van Doi in My Hoa hamlet said that last year the group chose 10 hectares of rice fields to surround with nets.

In addition to the available freshwater fish, the group also released 50kg of various types of fish fry. At the end of the season, they also earned a profit of over 30 million VND.

From the initial success, this year's flood season, the group continued to expand the area to 20 hectares of rice field fish farming with nearly 10 households participating. Mr. Doi said that rice field fish grow quickly, so the expected income will be much higher.

Also according to Mr. Doi, in this case, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of My Tu district (Soc Trang province) supported over 300 kg of fish seeds and nets surrounding the fields, and farmers contributed 50% of the capital.

Up to now, the fish weight has reached about 3 - 5 fish/kg, the field on the other side was released first, the fish weight has reached a larger weight, about 2 fish/kg, and the carp grows very quickly.

Mr. Le Van Thuong in My Thanh hamlet, My Tu commune (Soc Trang province) earns tens of millions of dong each year from the model of raising fish in floating cages in rice fields during the flood season. Photo by Huy Minh.

After many years of implementation, the model of raising fish in cages in My Tu commune has become popular. From a few households with only about 10 hectares initially, it has now grown to over 300 hectares.

Comrade Le Quoc Khoi - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of My Tu commune, My Tu district (Soc Trang province) said that the cage farming model in recent years has always brought stable economic efficiency.

This is a low investment model, easy to implement, while fish food takes advantage of natural food sources in the fields.

Raising rice in cages is not only a model that brings stable income to people, creates jobs for rural workers during the off-season, but also has the benefit of increasing soil fertility, reducing fertilizer costs for the next rice crop, and increasing rice productivity.

Comrade Le Quoc Khoi, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of My Tu commune (My Tu district, Soc Trang province) emphasized: "For the commune, it is currently determined that during the flood season, people cannot sow rice and have to switch to raising fish in cages.

Therefore, recently, the Commune People's Committee has also made recommendations to the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the District People's Committee, firstly, to provide support in terms of breeds and nets; secondly, to provide technical support in managing fish in the fields for new households. In addition, training should be provided to help people grasp the most effective farming techniques.

With the economic efficiency it brings, the model of raising fish in floating cages during the flood season is considered a sustainable agricultural model, a "nature-friendly" aquaculture model.

Source: https://danviet.vn/nuoc-tran-dong-dan-soc-trang-nuoi-ca-dong-trong-ruong-lua-kieu-gi-ma-he-bat-len-la-ban-het-veo-20241114081150679.htm