Coldwater fish farming raises expectations of sustainable poverty reduction

BHG - Xin Man District has taken advantage of its cool weather and a stable coldwater source to implement a project to raise coldwater fish in Quang Nguyen, Na Chi and Nam Dan Communes.

After one year, the project has brought positive signals and helped local residents find a suitable way for sustainable poverty reduction.

A group of young people in Nam Chanh Village, Nam Dan Commune, Xin Man District, are engaged in cold-water fish farming.

The cold-water fish farming project is implemented in partnership with two agro-forestry and fishery cooperatives, Dai An and Van Loc, which provide participating farmers with juvenile fish, feed and farming techniques to ensure the fish grow well.

At a sturgeon farming pond in Nam Chanh Village, Nam Dan Commune, after one year, each sturgeon weighs about 2-2.5 kilogrammes, with a total output of about 5 tonnes. With a kilogramme selling at 190,000-220,000 VND, each household in the group will earn about 100 million VND after excluding the costs.

Besides farming households linked with the cooperatives, Nam Dan Commune also expands the model to the community with the participation of ten households, using capital from the National Target Programme to provide juvenile fish, feed and aerators for farmers.

In Quang Nguyen and Na Chi Commune, the cold-water fish farming linkage chain implemented by the Van Loc Cooperative is creating jobs for ten households. The fish are growing well and are expected to be harvested at the end of 2024. The output is estimated at 15 tonnes, worth over 3.7 billion VND. This is a positive signal for the locality to expand the model and help residents choose an appropriate economic development path.

To enhance the effectiveness of fish farming, local authorities and specialist agencies of Xin Man District also pay attention to training and technology transfer, encouraging farmers to engage in fish farming carefully and acquire experience gradually. The district also strengthens the linkage with cooperatives to ensure the sale of fish, creating an impetus for local residents to have confidence in fish farming and work towards sustainable poverty reduction.