The hybrid conference on shrimp sector development, co-organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People’s Committee of the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, gathered the participation of 28 coastal cities and provinces nationwide.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien requested relevant agencies and localities to identify difficulties and challenges facing the sector for the ministry to take into account during its works toward sustainable growth.
Tien himself listed a number of obstacles and shortcomings including COVID-19-induced difficulties, outdated farming and rural infrastructure, and environmental pollution.
Participants put forth a series of solutions such as forming linkages among shrimp farming localities; developing a scenario for brackish water shrimp production in the context of COVID-19; and increasing the application of technological advances.
Per a report of the Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries, despite difficulties from abnormal weather and the pandemic, the sector produced 970,000 tonnes of shrimps last year, an annual rise of 4.3 percent. Shrimp export turnover grew 5.4 percent annually to about 3.9 billion USD in 2021, with Soc Trang and Ca Mau contributing over 2 billion USD to the sum.
As planned, in 2022, shrimp farming area will reach 750,000 ha for a production of 980,000 tonnes.
