Dong Thap digitises all pangasius farms, advances sustainable development

This marks a key step in the province’s plan to restructure its agricultural sector and modernise the pangasius industry with sustainable, technology-driven practices.

The province aims to ensure over 50% of its commercial pangasius farming area is GAP-certified (Good Agricultural Practices) and have 90% of individually operated farms participate in production and marketing linkages. For seed production, more than 75% of fry supplied for commercial farming is targeted to meet high quality standards, with 60% of hatcheries using genetically improved broodstock. In addition, 60% of farming areas are expected to have standard wastewater and sludge treatment systems, while 100% of primary water sources will be routinely monitored.

According to the Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province accounts for over 33% of the Mekong Delta’s pangasius farming area and nearly 35% of its output, supplying about 60% of the region’s seed stock. Dong Thap is home to 76 hatcheries and 1,104 nursery facilities covering approximately 950 hectares, producing around 20 billion pangasius larvae and 1.3 billion fingerlings annually.

To address challenges in seed production, Dong Thap is expanding environmental monitoring, digital management tools, and a three–level pangasius fingerling production programme. The province is also encouraging small-scale operators to form producer groups, cooperatives and clubs to standardise production and increase scale.

Farmers are benefiting from a slight rebound in export demand, particularly to the US, China and Europe, that has lifted farm-gate pangasius prices to 28,000-29,000 VND per kilogram, compared to an average production cost of around 27,000 VND/kg, leaving farmers with a profit margin of 1,000-1,500 VND/kg.

VFM