Ca Mau suitable for organic shrimp farming

HCMC - Ca Mau, with its vast mangrove forest, is in a good position to adopt the organic shrimp farming model to bring higher economic value to farmers and better adapt to climate change, said experts at a two-day workshop on the matter in the country’s southernmost province.

In a statement issued on March 28 after the workshop on Vietnam’s organic production and development, experts said organic shrimp farming in Ca Mau has proven more effective in reality. The workshop was jointly held by German development agency GIZ, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), the Naturland Association for Organic Agriculture, and Saigon Co.op.

According to GIZ, more than 2,000 households and four enterprises have joined the organic shrimp farming program and helped shrimp farmers increase output by 15% compared to the traditional farming method.

This is not only proven by shrimp farming households joining the GIZ program but also reflected by some enterprises in Ca Mau.

Le Van Quang, chairman and general director of Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, confirmed the suitability of Ca Mau for organic shrimp farming after his company had applied the model in some areas and realized the economic potential of this model.

Therefore, according to Christian Henckes, director of Integrated Coastal Management Program (ICMP) under GIZ, Ca Mau’s organic shrimp farming model will help Vietnamese shrimp better penetrate demanding markets and bring higher value.

A large area under tiger shrimp farming in Ca Mau’s mangrove forest has been certified to meet international standards such as Naturland, EU Organics and other standards, bringing additional benefits to producers.

Organic production can bring higher value to Vietnamese products like organic shrimps in the world market, and aid the sustainable coastal protection process of the Mekong Delta.

Currently, international customers demand high food quality standards for shrimp and other agricultural products while the market for organic products has huge growth potential, Henckes said.