Ben Tre (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre will invest more than 2.5trillion VND (107.5 million USD) by 2030 to develop key aquatic species likeblack tiger shrimp, white-legged shrimp and tra fish,according to the provincial People’s Committee.

ViceChairman of the provincial People’s Committee said of the sum, over 1.89 trillionVND (81.3 million USD) would come from the province’s budget and the remaining fromother sources.

Ben Treplans to expand farming of key aquatic species to 37,000ha and their annualoutput to 402,870 tonnes by 2030.

The planenvisages farming black tiger shrimp on 22,500ha, white-legged shrimp on13,500ha and tra fish on 1,000ha by that year.

It aimsto increase export of seafood to 200 million USD a year by 2030 from 90 millionUSD in 2020.

The planenvisages 70 percent of shrimp farming households becoming members of cooperativesor cooperative groups that are part of the value chain to stabilise productionand demand.

Lap saidto meet the targets the focus would be on infrastructure for aquaculture,improving the quality of broodstock and expanding the use of advanced farmingtechniques.

Theprovince would expand models that use advanced farming techniques to increaseyields and quality, adapt to climate change and protect the environment, hesaid.

Thefarming models breed shrimp and tra fish based on goodagricultural practices (GAP) standards like VietGAP, globalGAP and organicstandards.

Theprovince is soliciting investment in five or six more seafood processingplants, including two to four shrimp processing plants by 3030.

There are11 plants for processing tra fish and clams for export butnone to process shrimp.

Lap saidthe province would invest in irrigation systems for concentrated shrimp farmingareas, especially in the coastal districts of Ba Tri, Binh Dai and Thanh Phu.

Thesedistricts have large shrimp – rice and shrimp – forest farming areas.

Theprovincial People’s Committee has tasked the provincial Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development with safeguarding the environment inconcentrated shrimp farming areas.  

It hasordered the department and other agencies to ensure localities develop farmingof key aquatic species in accordance with zoning plans and their conditions.

Ben Trehas turned more than 10,000ha of infertile rice fields in places affected bysaltwater intrusion into aquaculture areas, orchards growing high-value fruitsand areas used for non-farming purposes.

Theprovince is one of the hardest hit in the delta by climate change and risingsea levels.-VNA