The Mekong Delta boasts substantial potential to restructure shrimp production and supply chains with high values. (Photo: VNA) The event was jointly held by the UN DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP) Vietnam, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)and the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
It formed part of the “Accelerating private sectorengagement in climate-resilient and low-emission investment opportunities in Vietnam’snationally determined contribution (NDC)” project rolled out by the MARD andthe UNDP in the south-central province of Binh Thuan and Bac Lieu since 2021.
The workshop is expected to boost the connectivitybetween shrimp farmers and cooperatives, businesses, processing facilities, andmanagement agencies towards the low-carbon, sustainable, and climate-resilient production.
Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the MARD'sInternational Cooperation Department, said the ministry is completingprocedures to join the Emirates Declaration on Resilient Food Systems,Sustainable Agriculture, and Climate Action, expected to be approved at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP28) in December 2023.
Nguyen Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of the Bac LieuDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development, briefed the participants onthe province’s agricultural policies towards reducing greenhouse gas emission, developing renewable energy development.
The participating experts presented initial resultsof the building and implementation of shrimp chain management software underthe project in Bac Lieu. They also looked into orientations for shrimp exportand domestic consumption in the time ahead.
Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Vietnam Patrick Haveman stressed that the Mekong Delta boasts substantial potentialto restructure shrimp production and supply chains with high values.
He suggested the MARD put forth mechanisms toencourage small and medium-sized farms to strengthen cooperation to produceorganic, ecological shrimp products in the Mekong Delta, saying local authoritiesshould also help them in origin and carbon footprint traceability for those products, thus expanding stable supply of high-quality shrimp for upscale supply chains for both domestic and foreign markets.
According to the national action plan on Vietnam'sshrimp industry development, the total brackish water shrimp farming area isexpected to reach 750,000 hectares by 2025, and the farmed shrimp output is setat over 1 million tonnes.
The sector aims to earn 10 billion USD fromexports by that time as compared with 4.3 billion USD last year./.
VNA
