In Bac Giang, how do you raise monosex tilapia so that they are all healthy, have delicious meat, and many people come to see?

By 2022, the aquaculture area of Bac Giang province will be about 12,250 hectares, with a total commercial output of over 52,700 tons, of which aquaculture output will reach over 49,400 tons.

The aquaculture movement of the province is increasingly developing in many localities. Although it has achieved high productivity, it still has many limitations such as: low survival rate of fish, high feed consumption coefficient, many diseases, unstable prices, high production costs, so competitiveness is weak.

To overcome the above limitations, the application of new technology and advanced farming techniques to aquaculture in general and intensive fish farming in particular, especially the linkage between farmers and seed, medicine and feed production facilities to develop sustainable intensive fish farming is a very topical issue today.

From 2021-2023, the Agricultural Extension Center has implemented a model of applying digital technology to intensive fish farming in Tan Yen, Hiep Hoa and Lang Giang districts, with a scale of 3 hectares.

Participating in the monosex tilapia farming model, households are supported with 70% of food, biological products, chemicals supported 25-35%; 70% of equipment price. Each hectare is supported to buy 02 water fans, 02 feeding machines, 02 smart devices, supporting machines and equipment of the right type, ensuring quality of installation, handover, warranty according to manufacturer standards.

Model of selecting monosex tilapia, with the amount of seed stocked is 110 thousand, size from 5g/fish or more, stocking density 3-5 fish/m2. Stocking time is August-September every year.

Tilapia fry are assessed by households as healthy, uniform in size, and disease-free...

Households participating in the model are trained by technical staff of the Agricultural Extension Center and the Agricultural Technical Service Center of the districts to provide technical guidance throughout the farming process, from pond preparation, water coloring and equipment installation; pond management and care, etc.

After 6-7 months of raising, the fish reach commercial size and are ready to be harvested.

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Visiting the monosex tilapia farming model applying digital technology in Noi village, Ngoc Thien commune, Tan Yen district, Bac Giang province.

Before harvesting, actively change the water to make the fish bright, beautiful, clean, the meat quality better, limit the mud smell and stop feeding the fish 1-2 days in advance.

After two years of implementation, with the attention and direction of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province and districts in applying new technology to local aquaculture. Farmers have experience in traditional fish farming and have facilities that meet the technical requirements of the model.

Through monitoring by the Agricultural Extension Center, the model of applying digital technology to intensive fish farming implemented from 2021-2023 achieved results such as a survival rate of 77.8%, an average weight of 953g/fish, and a yield of 26.2 tons/ha, fully meeting the technical criteria set forth by the model.

According to calculations, in 2021, the price of commercial tilapia reached 28,000 VND/kg (size 1,000 - 1,200g/fish), the total revenue of the model reached 700 million VND, minus all expenses, the profit was over 50 million VND. Meanwhile, intensive tilapia farming normally only made a profit of 29 million VND.

In the following years, the price of commercial tilapia was high, so the profit after 6 months of farming reached over 100 million VND. Compared to conventional farming, the model of applying digital technology to intensive tilapia farming is 24% more economically efficient.

Mr. Nguyen Van Lang, a household participating in the model in Noi village, Ngoc Thien commune, Tan Yen district (Bac Giang province) said, "My family has raised fish for many years, but this is the first year raising tilapia using digital technology. My family regularly receives technical attention and guidance from the Agricultural Extension Center's technical staff, so applying digital technology is not difficult.

The highlight of the model is that it helps farmers feed fish in quantity and on time, reducing labor, limiting environmental pollution, minimizing fish diseases; limiting the use of antibiotics and chemicals in aquaculture; creating clean products, ensuring food hygiene and safety, and especially being able to feed fish without having to stand directly on the pond bank, just turning on the devices connected via smartphone..."

In fact, the intensive fish farming model applying new technology helps farmers limit environmental pollution, reduce fish diseases; limit the use of antibiotics and chemicals in aquaculture; create clean products, ensure food hygiene and safety... No matter where you are, you can operate the equipment in the pond, reducing labor and risks for the pond.

Farmers are transferred the entire new and advanced technical process, increasing the value per unit of production area, helping farmers and fishermen have new techniques. Benefiting from the irrevocable support of seeds and materials, farmers have capital for reproduction.

It is known that the project "Master plan for agricultural development of Bac Giang province to 2025, orientation to 2030" was approved by the Provincial People's Committee, developing aquaculture into a large, effective and sustainable commodity production industry.

The project contributes significantly to the socio-economic development of the province, creates jobs, increases people's income, and shifts the structure of fisheries towards industrialization, modernization, commodity production and sustainable development associated with the reorganization of intensive production applying high technology, protecting the ecological environment, and meeting market requirements.

Thus, with more than 4,000 hectares of small ponds and lakes that have been and are being used for intensive and semi-intensive fish farming (70% of which is tilapia), the success of the models opens up a great prospect to help farmers in the region access new farming techniques, intensive tilapia farming using digital technology to create clean and safe products for users while contributing to environmental protection and increasing income for farmers.

Gradually forming concentrated food safety aquaculture areas such as Nghia Trung, Minh Duc, Viet Yen district, Song Van, Ngoc Chau, An Duong, Cao Thuong town, Tan Yen district; Song Mai, Da Mai, Bac Giang city; Thai Son, Hop Thinh, Hiep Hoa district... contributing to promoting the goal of sustainable aquaculture development in Bac Giang province.

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