Vietnam, US launch US$15.2 million tilapia development project
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien on January 13 held a working session with a delegation from the US Embassy on the US-Vietnam aquaculture value chain partnership project.
The project has a total budget of more than US$15.2 million and will be implemented over five years, aiming to raise tilapia output to 1.21 million tonnes, with total sales value estimated at around US$1.25 billion.
It is expected to begin in this March, focusing on basic research, improving broodfish quality, and supporting hatcheries. From October, it will expand technical support, training, capacity building, and financial assistance for farmers.
The project, to be implemented in the Red River Delta and the Mekong Delta, is expected to benefit more than 24,000 people. One of its key solutions is the use of high-quality imported soybeans as aquaculture feed to improve tilapia productivity and quality.
Tien proposed studying the expansion of striped tilapia and red tilapia development in the central and southern regions to take advantage of geographical conditions.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment committed to coordinating efforts to address related administrative procedures, aiming to complete them before May, creating conditions for effective project implementation and maximising Vietnam’s tilapia export potential.