Shrimp alliance formed to boost exports
Experts pointed out that the lack of connection between tiny-scale farms is posing a challenge for the shrimp exporting industry.
Ca Mau has over 280,000 hectares of shrimp farms, accounting for 40% of the province area and contributed to 30% of the country's export revenue. They hope to increase the revenue to USD3bn in 2025 and USD4bn in 2030. The province has opened many organic shrimp farming areas that meet international standards.
However, even though Ca Mau shrimps have been exported to 90 countries including the US, Japan, EU and China, there are still many problems with the industry in general.
Le Van Quang, chairman of Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, said, "I've travelled to many places in the past 10 years and realised that the shrimp processing technology in Vietnam is one of the best in the world. But Vietnam will fail when applying for a certain certificate."
According to Quang, the farms are too small in scale and there's no comprehensive connection between the farms so food traceability is nearly impossible to identify the origin of food.
"Firms must prove that they have a large farming area. It's very difficult to negotiate with the farmers and firms will have to spend a huge amount of money in order to earn a certificate for those farms," Quang said.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said in the near future, Ca Mau authorities, the Private Sector Development Office, the US Seafood Watch Programme and the Carnegie Fund would establish an alliance to provide hygienic shrimps that meet national and international standards to the markets.
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Ca Mau has over 280,000 hectares of shrimp farms, accounting for 40% of the province area and contributed to 30% of the country's export revenue. They hope to increase the revenue to USD3bn in 2025 and USD4bn in 2030. The province has opened many organic shrimp farming areas that meet international standards.
However, even though Ca Mau shrimps have been exported to 90 countries including the US, Japan, EU and China, there are still many problems with the industry in general.
Le Van Quang, chairman of Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, said, "I've travelled to many places in the past 10 years and realised that the shrimp processing technology in Vietnam is one of the best in the world. But Vietnam will fail when applying for a certain certificate."
According to Quang, the farms are too small in scale and there's no comprehensive connection between the farms so food traceability is nearly impossible to identify the origin of food.
"Firms must prove that they have a large farming area. It's very difficult to negotiate with the farmers and firms will have to spend a huge amount of money in order to earn a certificate for those farms," Quang said.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said in the near future, Ca Mau authorities, the Private Sector Development Office, the US Seafood Watch Programme and the Carnegie Fund would establish an alliance to provide hygienic shrimps that meet national and international standards to the markets.
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