The Mekong Delta has more focal points associated with seafood raw materials

On July 18, the Department of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang province to organize a consultation workshop to build "The project of focal centers in Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Soc Trang in association with aquatic raw material areas in coastal areas”.

The fishery is one of the key economic sectors, holding an essential position in the socio-economic development of many coastal localities in the Mekong Delta.

Soc Trang province's seafood industry is developing synchronously in all three areas: exploitation, farming, and processing for export, contributing US$ 1.05 billion to the local export turnover in 2022. However, the province's fisheries development currently has many limitations and lacks the conditions to promote fast, effective, and sustainable development.

For example, the planning and management of farming areas and the production scale are still small. The infrastructure is not synchronized to meet the production requirements. In addition, production costs are quite high, while commercial seafood prices are unstable, the production lacks linkages, linkages are not close, and regional associations are unclear.

Huynh Ngoc Nha, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang province, assessed that it is necessary to build focal centers in Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Soc Trang in association with the aquatic raw material areas in the coastal area. It is contributing to promoting modern and sustainable farming. At the same time, accelerate the conversion of concentrated rice growing areas and other livelihood models of low economic value to aquaculture, develop the seafood processing industry, logistics services, and fish vocational infrastructure.

According to the Department of Fisheries, building a project of focal centers in Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Soc Trang associated with aquatic raw materials in coastal areas is one of the orientations in the Master Plan for the Mekong Delta in the 2021 - 2030 period, vision to 2050.

The Project's specific objective is to assess the current status of seafood production, supply, processing, logistics, and consumption of seafood in the coastal area of the Mekong Delta.

At the same time, the model of focal centers associated with coastal raw materials areas in 3 provinces of Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Soc Trang was identified. In particular, Soc Trang will be the center of exploitation of the East Coast, the center of aquaculture and seafood exploitation, and the center of the seafood processing and export industry in the East Coast sub-region.

Kien Giang province will be the center of exploitation of the western coastal sub-region, including aquaculture and fishing activities, the center of the seafood processing industry, and the export of the West Coast sub-region.

And Ca Mau province will be the center of coastal sub-regional exploitation in the Ca Mau peninsula. This will be the center of aquaculture, seafood exploitation, the seafood processing industry, and the export of the sub-region of Ca Mau peninsula.

Initially, to launch the Project, specialized units of 3 provinces: Soc Trang, Kien Giang, and Ca Mau, and experts shared, candidly commented as well as considered when developing the draft content of the Project.

In particular, it is suggested that the consulting unit must delve into the necessary and sufficient conditions for the center's success based on reference to international experience. From there, when developing the Project, detailed content will be suitable for the Mekong Delta region. At the same time, promote work and exchange directly with localities and mobilize the participation of many provincial departments.

Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the Department of Fisheries, expressed that the first idea to establish a new center will still be difficult. The next step must be based on the data. The survey results are based on the consultations to develop a draft proposal for establishing the center.

Luan affirmed that the role of localities is critical in the project of building focal centers in Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Soc Trang in association with the raw material area of aquatic products in the coastal area.

He also suggested that the consulting unit and the specialized departments of the Department of Fisheries develop a draft project to continue discussing with localities.

The project of focal centers in Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Soc Trang associated with aquatic raw materials in coastal areas will be implemented until 2030, with a vision to 2045 by the direction of the Mekong Delta Master Plan.

It is expected that, from now until the end of 2023, the Department of Fisheries will complete consultation activities on the plan to build the scheme of localities and ministries and agencies, survey and data collection, Finalize the Project, and submit it to the Prime Minister for approval.