Binh Dinh: Overcoming poverty thanks to cage aquaculture
Many fish farmers in the southern province of Binh Dinh, have escaped poverty through cage farming model.
Through hard work, perseverance, and a determination to build a better life, Nguyen Thi Mai Ly, a 34-year-old resident of Dinh Nhat Hamlet, Vinh Hao Commune, Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province, has successfully utilized the water surface of Dinh Binh Reservoir to invest in cage aquaculture. Her efforts have brought high economic returns and helped her family escape poverty step by step.
Ly shared that her family used to belong to a low-income household, relying heavily on unstable agricultural production. In 2013, recognizing the potential of the freshwater in Dinh Binh Reservoir, she and her husband decided to build a cage to farm red tilapia on a trial basis. Starting with two cages covering an area of 40 m², their first harvest after nearly six months yielded a profit of nearly 20 million VND.
Seeing the promising results, Ly’s family decided to scale up. From 2014 to now, they have borrowed a total of 250 million VND from preferential loan programs of the Vinh Thanh District Social Policy Bank to expand their operations. They now manage 14 fish cages (8 for red tilapia, 6 for hemibagrus, and 2 for clown knife fish), utilizing a total water surface area of 320 m². The family also invested in equipment such as water circulators, oxygen aerators, and flow generators to optimize farming conditions.
According to Ly, red tilapia is easy to farm and highly resilient. With high-quality initial stock, proper care, and regular disease prevention, the fish grow quickly and remain healthy, with a survival rate exceeding 90%. Cage farming simplifies care and cleaning processes, ensuring efficiency.
Currently, the family raises red tilapia over two farming cycles per year. In 2024, they harvested over 21 tons of fish, selling directly to traders at the cage site for 45,000–50,000 VND/kg. After deducting all expenses, they earned a profit exceeding 300 million VND. Additionally, the income from farming hemibagrus and clown knife fish, which takes 1.5–3 years per cycle, provides a stable annual income of nearly 100 million VND per cycle.
To further enhance their economic stability, Ly’s family also raises over 30 goats and engages in forestry activities, bringing their total annual income to over 450 million VND. Their diligence and resourcefulness have enabled them to build a stable livelihood and improve their standard of living.
Moreover, Ly actively shares her farming experience and provides goat breeding stock to help other households in Vinh Hao Commune develop economically and rise out of poverty.
VFM
