Production cost is a big problem in the shrimp industry

The shrimp industry aims to export more than 4 billion USD in 2024.

Many difficulties surround

At the Conference “Implementing the task of developing brackish water shrimp in 2024” organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on February 23, Director of the Department of Fisheries Tran Dinh Luan informed that in 2023 the area for brackish water shrimp farming will be increased. reaching 737,000 hectares, basically no increase compared to 2022. Output reached 1.12 million tons, up 5.5% over the same period in 2022, of which black tiger shrimp output reached 274,000 tons and white shrimp output reached 845,000 tons . Shrimp seed production output reached 150 billion shrimp. Export turnover reaches 3.45 billion USD (down 19.8% compared to 2022).

According to the 2024 production plan, the need for broodstock shrimp is 260,000 – 270,000 shrimp; 140 – 150 billion shrimp seeds. Shrimp farming area reached 737,000 hectares, shrimp production of all kinds was 1.065 million tons (lower than output in 2023), of which black tiger shrimp was 300,000 tons, whiteleg shrimp was 765,000 tons and export turnover was from 4 to 4.3 billion. USD.

However, to achieve this goal there are still many challenges when broodstock shrimp breeds depend on imported sources (83.5% of whiteleg shrimp, 16.5% of black tiger shrimp) and wild exploitation (33, 3% of black tiger shrimp broodstock), only partly supplied domestically, not proactive in production. There are still many establishments that have not been inspected and issued certificates of eligibility to produce and rear aquatic breeds according to the provisions of the Fisheries Law (about 40% of establishments) but are still granted quarantine certificates.

The cost of shrimp production in our country is still higher than other countries in the region because the cost of shrimp feed accounts for a high proportion of the production cost (about over 65% of the cost of industrial shrimp farming); The cost of imported shrimp broodstock is high. In particular, many farming areas lack electricity and have to use generators to pump water, fan air, and generate electricity. Small farming facilities often lack production capital, most of the farming infrastructure is not guaranteed…

Vice Chairman of Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee Le Van Su said that by 2023, Ca Mau’s seafood export turnover will only reach more than 900 million USD. The reason is that the popular shrimp farming area in the province is still small, the farming situation is still spontaneous, not linked, and it is difficult to apply science and technology, leading to low productivity and not high efficiency compared to other provinces. other locality. In particular, price is a big problem for the shrimp industry. If there are no solutions, it will face difficulties both in 2024 and in the coming time.

Reduce risks in farming to lower production costs

Mr. Le Van Su said that the major contribution to reducing costs lies in the production organization stage. Chain link is only one part, the most important is the farming technique. Intensive and super-intensive shrimp farming, if the risk rate (shrimp dies during the farming process) is as high as it is now, it is difficult to reduce costs. Therefore, professional agencies, institutes and schools need to focus on supporting localities to soon find technical solutions for farming models, reducing risk rates, especially for intensive and super-intensive farming models. .

In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to soon have a solution to control and stabilize the price of input materials, especially feed in shrimp farming, to stabilize the price of input materials, especially feed in shrimp farming. raw material pricing. At the same time, build and disseminate effective shrimp farming models, reduce costs, and reduce emissions for replication. There are mechanisms and policies to support research on solutions to prevent and treat dangerous new diseases in brackish water shrimp and provide early warnings for the above diseases so that businesses and people can proactively prevent them.

To achieve the 2024 plan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien requested the Department of Fisheries to strengthen management and control of shrimp breed quality; Organize inspection, evaluation, and certification of eligibility for shrimp seed production and nursery facilities, food production facilities, and environmental treatment and improvement products in aquaculture; Strictly handle establishments that do not comply with regulations.

Localities perform well the management and organization of inspection and control of production facility conditions and the quality of breeds, aquatic feed, and aquaculture environmental treatment products. Key localities raising improved extensive shrimp, rice shrimp, and wild shrimp (Ca Mau, Kien Giang…) maintain areas for raising rice shrimp, wild shrimp, improved extensive farming, and organic shrimp. Promote the application of techniques to increase productivity and farming output. There are solutions to support businesses, cooperatives, cooperative groups and shrimp farmers to organize chain production links, optimize production chains to reduce product costs. Coordinate with the State Bank provincial branch and relevant units to continue reviewing and researching to build a model of providing credit through chain links for implementation.

As for the Industry Association, Mr. Phung Duc Tien proposed that attention should be paid to building closely linked farming areas. Actively apply new technology to reduce production costs; Promote production links and replicate effective production models and chains; maintain and develop the output market, fight with technical barriers… Enterprises and shrimp farmers develop plans and prepare conditions to proactively produce in the new context and situation of the shrimp industry domestically and globally.