Hanoi (VNA) – Rising sea levels have exacerbated saline intrusion and coastalerosion in Vietnam, but farmers can make the best out of a bad situation byshifting from agriculture to aquaculture, raising brackish water shrimp.

Thisview was expressed by the Directorate of Fisheries (DoF) at the fourthagricultural promotion forum held in the southern province of Bac Lieu on May 5.

Attendingthe forum were leaders from relevant sectors, scientists and nearly 200 shrimpfarmers from the Mekong delta provinces of Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, TienGiang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Long An and Bac Lieu.

DoFofficial Ngo The Anh said at the forum that raising brackish water shrimp was akey target in the nation’s aquaculture development plans, especially in coastallocalities.

“Currently,brackish shrimp is a leader in the seafood sector, accounting for about 45 percentof the sector’s export turnover. It’s seen as a product with significantadvantage and potential in the context of global climate change.”

Anhsaid localities in the Mekong Delta needed to take advantage of all itspotentials including natural conditions, available markets, processingtechnology and experience of local breeders.

“Wehave to develop shrimp farming on a large scale using modern technology; thiswill not only be environmentally friendly but also create high-qualityproducts.”

TheDoF also informed the meeting that various Vietnamese shrimp products had highpotential because they were favoured in the world market. There is currently nolimit on shrimp products, because its price has almost never dropped.

TruongThe Hung, a shrimp farmer in Soc Trang province, said he and his peers weremore concerned about the quality of post-larvae because they could not checkthis with the naked eye.

Mostshrimp farmers who expressed their views and opinions at the forum alsomentioned difficulties they faced, including raising capital, diseaseoutbreaks, the quality of post-larvae and veterinary medicines, which they saidwere hurting the shrimp breeding industry.

Shrimpfarmers suffered last year from drought and salinity, which damaged more than188,000 ha of ponds in Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Kien Giang provinces.

Inthe early months of this year, Delta farmers raised shrimp on 556,000 ha, morethan double the same period last year.

KimVăn Tieu, Deputy Director of the National Agricultural Promotion Centre,suggested the DoF continue to focus on managing the quality of post-larvae,probiotics and antibiotics, as well as products to treat the environment, inorder to protect the rights and interests of shrimp farmers.

“Research institutes, schools and businessesneed to study and engage in the production of quality, disease-freepost-larvae, and produce disease-resistant varieties in the future,” he said. –VNA