Mekong Delta localities discuss tra fish development

ABO/NDO – A conference to launch a development plan for the tra fish sector was held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on February 18, attracting leaders of 10 regional cities and provinces that rely on tra fish farming.

The Mekong Delta raises about 5,400 ha of tra fish for commercial use in 2018, up 3.25% annually.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said the sector will strive to yield 1.51 million tonnes of tra fish and earn nearly US$2.4 billion from exports this year.

He asked localities to tap into the advantages of tra fish breeding that is adaptable to the impacts of climate change and environmental protection.

 

Businesses and local authorities were urged to closely manage tra fish breeding zones; encourage farmers to join the connectivity chain with other firms; and monitor traces of origin, food safety, and the quality of fries.

 

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong speaks at the conference.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Anh Thu said regional localities should form a close-contained cluster specialised in fry breeding and fillet processing for export, making it easier for consumers to trace the origin of products.

 

Minister Cuong said the Mekong Delta raised about 5,400 ha of tra fish for commercial use last year, up 3.25% annually. Over 3.8 ha of which met VietGAP standards and more than 1.42 million tonnes were produced, up 13.6%.

 

Tra fish prices averaged nearly VND29,000 (US$1.26) per kg last year – even reaching VND35,000-36,000 per kg in October, raising the total export revenue to US$2.26 billion.