Successful launching workshop to promote model farm study in Ca Mau province, Vietnam

CA MAU, VIETNAM, 28th August 2017 - A launching workshop to promote model farm study was successfully held as part of the “Scaling up Mangrove Ecosystem Based Adaptation in the Mekong Delta”, MAM2 project

The event brought together partner teams of the project and approximately 80 representatives including Department of Agriculture & Rural development, district People’s committees, UNREDD CM, Aquaculture research institute (RIA2), Nam Song Hau research institute, Tropical biology institute, Ho Chi Minh, 4 related Forest Management Board (FMBs), processors/companies, farmer groups and 42 model farm study members. It marks a significant milestone for the model farm study that will be implemented to improve productivity of mangrove shrimp farming in Ca Mau province.

This was the first occasion where all the farmer groups, farm study members, project team, and local authorities in the province got together for shrimp aquaculture productivity improvement. “It was very useful”, said Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, MAM2 Project Manager, SNV Vietnam. “The workshop brought a friendly and cooperative atmosphere among participants. During the event,  the local authorities showed great appreciation for our project team effort in addressing urgent needs for improving productivity of integrated model in Ca Mau. They also provided support to the designed treatments and methodology of the model farm study”.

The unique aspect of this study’s design is that it focus on testing harvesting methods (release water from shrimp ponds as usual; limited water release) that try to reduce environmental risks, disease spread and possible of nutrient ponds improvement practices. In addition, it is also designed to test probiotic and photo bacteria for improving nutrient ponds for improved survival rate and productivity, test nursing techniques for post larvae in (2) different schedule periods, and test combined stocking densities and nursing techniques, probiotics for best productivity.

During the study tours in Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau province, most farmers were interested in joining this project model as it stimulated the adoption of new harvest method which limited water exchange leading to spreading diseases, pollutants in the areas. At the workshop, the representatives of UNREDD Ca Mau and MAM2 project signed a co-funding agreement for the model farm study, in which UNREDD Ca Mau will provide qualified post larvae for the one year model farm study to increase productivity of shrimp farming in Ca Mau province.

The project hopes one year model farm study will create scientific and practical bases for quality and productivity of shrimp farming. It also enhances access to certified markets that the private processors are ensuring to buy these products for farmers, as an initiative from the MAM’s mangrove and shrimp integration project.