On October 31 morning, 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Ca Mau province coordinated with the Directorate of Fisheries - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to organize a workshop to consult on on effective shrimp farming solutions in the last months of 2024.
 

Delegates at the conference.

In the first 9 months of 2024, the country's shrimp output reached 1.1 million tons, with an estimated export turnover of USD 2.8 billion. In Ca Mau province alone, by October 2024, shrimp output was estimated at 200,000 tons, reaching 82.30% of the plan, up 2.02% over the same period; export turnover reached USD 968 million, equal to 87.61% of the plan, up 12.23% over the same period. 

According to the workshop introduction, for a long time, the shrimp industry has faced many difficulties, especially the continuous decline in shrimp prices. However, recently, shrimp prices have increased again, which is a positive sign, creating momentum for the shrimp industry to continue to accelerate. Although shrimp prices have improved, the shrimp industry in the country in general and Ca Mau shrimp in particular still face many challenges. Shrimp farmers have to face the impacts of climate change, unusual weather changes; diseases in farmed shrimp still occur; the shrimp farming environment has not been well controlled; the application of science and technology is still limited. Through the workshop, it is expected to raise important issues, contributing to helping the shrimp industry overcome difficulties and develop in the last months of 2024.

At the workshop, Experts predict that in the last months of the year, the shrimp industry will still have many challenges to overcome. Global shrimp production will increase again by the end of 2024 and remain stable until 2025. Giant tiger prawn will continue to be farmed and develop strongly again (China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India). Competition is fierce among shrimp producing countries, as some shrimp consuming countries have strategies to develop domestic aquaculture, increasing quality requirements.

From the difficulties as well as forecasts for the development of the shrimp industry, the workshop discussed solutions for applying science, technology and organizing effective shrimp seed production and farming in the last months of 2024 and early 2025. In particular, it is necessary to promptly restore production after natural disasters and organize winter shrimp production. Authorities need to manage the quality of seeds and aquatic materials well to serve production. Increase stocking in areas that have not been stocked according to plan, focus on intensive farming, high technology, and manage environmental and disease factors well (stocking density appropriate to technical level, management, season, infrastructure, support equipment, etc.). Manage and implement food safety well to meet market requirements. Coordination between fisheries and veterinary agencies, agricultural extension agencies, etc. to implement and guide the implementation of environmental monitoring and warning, disease prevention and food safety should be strengthened to increase efficiency, and the quality of farmed shrimp should be focused on. In addition, the seasonal schedule for stocking should be reviewed and adjusted to suit local conditions and production methods.

The workshop also focused on on propaganda, dissemination, guidance on disease prevention and treatment for farmed shrimp, strengthen management in aquaculture veterinary medicine. Introduce some models, farming processes, farming technologies, environmental solutions, nutrition, etc. applied for effective shrimp farmin. Promoting the consolidation and establishment of new closed production chains for the shrimp industry. Through production chains, farmers will be able to limit costs arising from increased prices of input materials for shrimp farming.