The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu has begun plans to expand its shrimp aquaculture industry, beginning with the construction of the Bac Lieu high-tech agricultural zone in Hiep Thanh Commune in Bac Lieu City, which started earlier this year.

When completed by 2020, the 419-hectare zone worth VND3.2 trillion (US$140 million) will be one of the largest in Southeast Asia and is expected to help Bac Lieu become the national hub for the shrimp industry.

A local farmer, Dinh Vu Hai from Vinh Trach Dong commune in Bac Lieu City, also began raising white-leg shrimp in a super-intensive aquaculture model in greenhouses.

Instead of depending on local authorities, Hai decided to come up with solutions to the massive losses of shrimp in the coastal region of the Mekong Delta caused by widespread disease.

In February 2017, Hai flew to Thailand and visited C.P. Group’s white-leg shrimp cultivation model in greenhouses.

After his return, he began raising shrimp at a capacity of 60 – 90 tonnes per hectare.

“This model allows shrimp to grow big, and the capacity can reach 200 tonnes per ha each year,” he said.

After Hai, many big companies, including the Viet Nam – Australia Group, invested VND1 trillion ($44 million) to build a closed production chain that includes a shrimp feed and food processing factory, and the management of processed shrimp for export. The production is located on 500 hectares in Hiep Thanh Commune.

Global ambitions

These models are expected to change the traditional shrimp industry by increasing capacity by 10 to 15 times.

Thanks to progress in high-tech shrimp cultivation, central and local authorities hope the province will become the national shrimp hub and contribute to making Viet Nam one of the biggest global shrimp exporters.

To obtain the goal, the province has received approval from the Government to shift the planned construction of thermal power plants to wind and solar power plants, aiming to maintain a clean environment for the high-tech shrimp industry.

Wind and solar power projects and high-tech shrimp aquaculture are attracting interest from investors, with substantially more capital than last year.

Construction on two wind power plants with capacity of 172 MW began on January 30.

In addition, 20 companies applied to operate inside the recently built Bac Lieu high-tech agricultural zone. However, only seven of them were accepted.

After Bac Lieu high-tech agricultural zone opens, there will be 100 units for super-intensive shrimp aquaculture in households in the high-tech agricultural zone.

Microchips will be used in every shrimp pond to maintain 16 standards related to the environment and shrimp health.

For example, if the shrimp need to be fed, the chip will send ultrasound waves to machines that will drop food into the pond.

The technology used for the shrimp model saves food costs and reduces pollution.

“Technology plays a very important part in increasing the value chain for the shrimp industry,” Luong Thanh Van, chairman and CEO of the Viet Nam–Australia Group, said.

“Bac Lieu Province is still one of the poorest ones in the Mekong Delta. The province aims to improve the situation within the next 15 years by creating shortcuts,” Duong Thanh Trung, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said.

“High-tech shrimp cultivation is one of the key industries that can help the province obtain its goal, and authorities should create a better business environment for domestic and foreign investors,” he added. – VNS