Raising catfish, a specialty fish on the largest natural river in the Northwest, is selling well in Hoa Binh.

With the support of the provincial Agricultural Extension Center, when participating in the project, households raising fish in cages in Hoa Binh and Son La are supported with fish fry, food, and techniques for raising catfish - a specialty fish with high nutrition and economic value. After more than 1 year of participating in the project, households are expected to earn 200 million VND.

Raising specialty fish, farmers earn 200 million VND

In 2023 and 2024, the Agricultural Extension Center of Hoa Binh and Son La provinces has implemented a model of raising catfish in cages at the Son La-Hoa Binh hydroelectric reservoir according to VietGAP standards associated with product consumption linkage. The scale in Hoa Binh is 700m3 and Son La is 300m3, with 8 households participating.

When participating in the project, households are trained in techniques for raising catfish in cages according to VietGAP standards, supported with fish seeds (the state supports 70%, the people contribute 30%); food, disease prevention medicine, Vitamin C, digestive enzymes, other essential supplies (the state supports 50%, the people contribute 50%).

In addition, you will be consulted and guided on how to raise fish according to VietGAP standards and granted certification when meeting VietGAP standards and supported in introducing product consumption links.

Participating in the 2023 model, Mr. Dinh Van Thi, Trang hamlet, Binh Thanh commune, Cao Phong district (Hoa Binh) excitedly said that the catfish is growing and developing very well.

Being instructed in the techniques of raising catfish by agricultural extension officers, he is now very proficient in taking care of this specialty fish.

Mr. Thi shared: "I was supported by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center with 3,500 catfish fry, 3 tons of food, medicine and was enthusiastically instructed and guided on how to raise fish by staff."

Mr. Dinh Van Thi, Trang hamlet, Binh Thanh commune, Cao Phong district (Hoa Binh) participates in the model of raising catfish in cages at the Son La-Hoa Binh hydroelectric reservoir according to VietGAP standards associated with product consumption linkage in 2023. It is expected that Mr. Thi will earn 200 million VND from selling catfish. Photo: Binh Minh

After more than 12 months of raising catfish, Mr. Thi said that the fish are healthy, have few diseases, and especially, the value of this specialty fish is higher than black catfish and grass carp - fish species commonly raised in the commune.

Currently, the weight of each catfish in Mr. Thi's model is from 2.5 to 3kg/kg. He plans to raise it for a short time before selling it. Traders pay 140,000 VND/kg for catfish, while the highest price for black catfish is only 100,000 VND/kg. It is expected that he will earn 200 million VND from the catfish farming model.

In Tien Phong commune, Da Bac district, Mr. Xa Ngoc Hung, who participated in the 2024 model, said that after receiving the baby catfish, he was instructed on safe bio-farming techniques and kept a full diary of fish care, feeding, and disease treatment.

According to Mr. Hung, the catfish adapts quickly and is quite suitable for commercial farming on hydroelectric reservoirs. After 11 months, the fish can weigh 1.2kg or more.

"The growth of the catfish is slower than that of the black catfish, but in return, its economic value is higher. Looking at the fish growing well and being healthy, it promises to be a farming species that brings sustainable income to the people," Mr. Hung shared.

The Hoa Binh Provincial Agricultural Extension Center organized 4 training sessions on model replication for 80 households who are households outside the model implementation area to participate in promoting the model. Developed 600 technical leaflets on raising catfish in cages according to VietGAP standards and distributed them to communes with developed cage fish farming.

Encourage expansion of catfish farming

Upstream from the Da River to Quynh Nhai District (Son La), households participating in the project are also happy because the results of raising catfish are very successful.

Participating in the model, Mr. Dieu Chinh Tho's family, Pa Uon village, Muong Giang commune and Mr. Quang Van Cuong's family, Dong Tam village, Chieng On commune, Quynh Nhai district, were provided with more than 3,000 breeding lang nha; supported with mixed feed, chemicals, biological products, and essential supplies.

After 2 years of implementation, the growth of the catfish is stable, with few diseases, and the survival rate is 90% or higher. Currently, 2 participating households have been certified as aquaculture facilities meeting VietGAP standards.

In Muong La district, Mr. Ca Van Sieng said that in July 2024, he was supported by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center with 1,500 baby catfish. Thanks to the application of safe farming processes and disease prevention measures, the catfish grew well, with a survival rate of over 90%.

According to Mr. Sieng, the price of the Nha catfish is 30-35% higher than that of the black catfish. It is expected that by the end of 2025, this Nha catfish crop will be harvested with an output of 1.5 tons, and his family will earn nearly 200 million VND.

Currently, the price of Nha catfish is 140,000 VND/kg, 30-35% higher than black catfish. Photo: Binh Minh

Catfish, also known as red-tailed catfish, has a shape similar to catfish with a body that tapers towards the tail. The mouth is wide, the teeth are of the cane-toothed type, the head is conical, the top of the head is rough, and slightly flattened. The eyes are located near the top of the head. The gill membrane is separated from the gill isthmus and is mostly separate from each other. The dorsal and pectoral fins have hard, serrated spines on the back. The body is gray, the back is darker than the belly. The pelvic fins are light yellow, the other fins are light red.

Evaluating the model of raising catfish currently being implemented in the province, Mr. Cong Xuan Ngoc, Director of the Agricultural Extension Center of Son La province, said that the model was implemented to encourage the expansion of commercial catfish farming and will be a demonstration model for cage fish farmers in the province to visit and learn from experience.

At the same time, households participating in the model will play a role in transferring, consulting and guiding techniques for raising catfish according to VietGAP standards for people in the area. The ultimate goal is to expand to the entire community, creating more jobs and stable income for people in the reservoir area, contributing to the sustainable development of the local economy.

According to Mr. Do Duc Truong, Director of the Agricultural Extension Center of Hoa Binh province, the results achieved from the models participating in the project of raising catfish in cages at the Son La-Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir according to VietGAP standards associated with product consumption linkages can promise to open up a new direction for people in the Son La-Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir area, contributing to increasing income, improving the lives of cage fish farming households and cooperatives, promoting sustainable agricultural and rural economic development, hunger eradication, poverty reduction, successful implementation of agricultural restructuring projects, and sustainable and effective aquaculture development.

In 2 years (2023 and 2024), the Son La Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has printed and distributed 600 brochures introducing the technical process of raising catfish applied in the project; organized 4 training courses on model building and training, replication training, and technical guidance on cage fish and catfish farming for over 100 people. At the same time, it provided 6,000 catfish fry; supported mixed feed, chemicals, biological products, and essential materials; provided technical support, inspected and supervised the model, assessed and granted VietGAP certification to farming facilities according to regulations. Households participating in the model also participated in workshops and committed to consuming commercial fish.

Source: https://danviet.vn/nuoi-ca-lang-nha-ca-dac-san-tren-con-song-tu-nhien-lon-nhat-tay-bac-dan-hoa-binh-ban-hut-hang-20250322133816077.htm