Raising yellowfin pompano with VietGAP standard

Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center coordinates to deploy the model of raising yellowfins in Thien Cam town, Cam Xuyen district. This is the first model certified VietGAP on commercial yellowfins in Ha Tinh province.

The model was deployed at Mr. Nguyen Van Mai's facility on a scale of 5,000 square meters. Mr. Mai released 15,000 breeding fish. Over four months, up to now, the survival rate has reached 70%, and the weight of fish is 500 - 600 g/fish. At the end of the model, the weight of fish is expected to reach 700 - 800g/fish for more than one month.

With the current selling price of 140,000 - 150,000 VND per kilogram, Mr. Mai will earn more than 200 million VND. This amount is huge for Mr. Mai, who has repeatedly tried raising white-leg shrimp but has not been effective.

“As soon as Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center suggested, I agreed immediately. More glad when I was supported with product consumption," Mr. Mai said.

According to Mr. Mai, yellowfin pompano is easy to raise at the beginning of farming, has less epidemic, has higher survival, and is safer than shrimp farming. Fishes grow fast and are easy to care for; farming techniques are easier than shrimp farming and other aquatic objects so that they can limit risks.

The Yellowfin pompano only grows and develops at the best temperature of 26 - 32 degrees Celcius. Food is the floating industrial food. In a significant stage of fish, farmers can add freshly chopped fish.

Compared to some other brackish fish, yellow fins have many outstanding advantages. While many other fish must reach a weight of 1 kg for delicious meat and sell prices, yellow fins only need to weigh over 300 g to sell, and meat quality is still guaranteed.

Agricultural extension staff also guide some of the technical notes. In particular, pay special attention to pond improvement and treating pathogens and harmful microorganisms.

The characteristic of yellowfins is that oxygen is needed. Therefore, Mr. Mai arranged water fans at the ponds to ensure an adequate oxygen supply for fish to develop well. The pond depth is guaranteed to be over 1.5 m of water.

Determining this is a new direction for people in coastal areas, Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center decided to support a part of the cost of seed and food. In addition, farmers with an area of 5,000 square meters or more are also endowed with 100% of VietGAP's consultancy and certification funding.

Mr. Truong Huy Dung, Deputy Director of Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center, said: “Agricultural extension staff always monitor, closely follow and guide detailed guidance for the participants. At the same time, we also regularly organize training on raising yellow fins according to VietGAP standards.”

By implementing the model, Mr. Dung assessed that the yellow fins could become a key product of Thien Cam town. This will be a potential species that can be used to convert inefficient aquaculture areas.

The farming of yellowfins, according to VietGAP standards, also contributes to ensuring and improving food safety and hygiene for people. If the model is developed, the product fully meets the traceability, helping to improve the value.

In Ha Tinh, yellow fins are raised in many forms, such as ponds, cages, or grafting with shrimp. However, some families hesitate to develop yellow fins due to the complicated disease of brackish shrimp.

Taking advantage of abandoned shrimp ponds to raise yellowfins is a practical solution, contributing to farmers' diversification and improving farmers' income.

Through the operation of the Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center, local fishermen have changed their thinking about sustainable aquaculture.

They are also more aware of the benefits of reducing food costs, chemicals, and labor, limiting environmental pollution, higher product quality, easier consumption, etc.

Through the results at Mr. Mai's facility, Mr. Nguyen Tong Anh, Vice Chairman of Thien Cam Town People's Committee, said: “The government will organize propaganda and replication of the model and propose relevant organizations to support funding for people to implement”.