Shrimp farming to drive Bac Lieu’s agriculture
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has given a nod to the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu to set up a high-tech agriculture zone aiming to make shrimp breeding a locomotive of the local agriculture.
Bac Lieu should roll out both short- and long-term solutions to cope with climate change, he said, requesting the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to set forth comprehensive solutions to assist the Mekong Delta region and the province in particular in the combat.
Of note, the locality earns about US$500 million each year from the shrimp farming. With an annual output of some 105,000 tonnes, Ca Mau has become the second largest shrimp producer nationwide with diverse breeding models.
The province’s economy grew by 5.09% in the first half of this year. Due to its dependence on agricultural production, the local economy has been seriously affected by the lingering drought and salt water intrusion which have damaged 1,300 hectares of rice and 14,000 hectares of shrimp.
The local rice sector is facing a galaxy of difficulties due to the fierce competition with Thai rivals. Climate change has also exerted serious impacts on local salt industry.