Tra Vinh: Revitalizing freshwater aquaculture

In particular, areas along the Hau River, such as Cau Ke and Tieu Can districts, have seen a resurgence in the farming of species like snakehead fish, pangasius, and giant freshwater prawns. Many farmers are shifting toward closed farming systems and forming partnerships with businesses to ensure stable market access.

In the first two months of 2025, the province stocked 21.82 million juvenile shrimp and fish across 315 hectares. This included 10.8 million giant freshwater prawn juveniles over 227 hectares and 10.19 million snakehead fish juveniles over 28.73 hectares. Currently, snakehead fish are selling for 42,000–45,000 VND/kg, yielding a profit of 5,000–7,000 VND/kg for farmers. Meanwhile, giant freshwater prawns (10 prawns/kg) are priced at 250,000–260,000 VND/kg, marking an increase of 20,000–25,000 VND/kg compared to early 2024.

In Cau Ke District, snakehead fish farming has been expanding, especially in riverine communes like Hoa Tan and Ninh Thoi. Farmers are adopting closed farming models with market linkages, allowing for better production control and financial stability.

Pham Thanh Binh, a farmer from An Binh Hamlet, Hoa Tan Commune, Cau Ke District, emphasized that the snakehead fish market is highly dependent on supply and demand. To ensure profitability, farmers need to collaborate with businesses for stable market access while implementing closed farming systems to minimize losses. The water conditions along the Hau River are favorable for fish growth, unlike in Tra Cu and Cau Ngang, where pollution has affected farming.

With a leased land area of 1.5 hectares, Pham Thanh Binh has been farming snakehead fish for more than two cycles. His farm is designed with five production ponds (1,500 m² each), while the remaining area is allocated for two water treatment ponds to maintain water quality and reduce disease risks. His farm yields an average of 20 tons of commercial fish per 1,000 m², with a stocking density of 50 fish/m². On February 27, 2025, his family sold snakehead fish to a business at 40,000 VND/kg, earning a profit of approximately 5,000 VND/kg.

In recent years, pangasius farming has faced challenges due to the lack of market linkages. Most processing companies operate their own farms, making it difficult for small-scale farmers to compete. Although areas along the Hau River and Vam Cau Quan are well-suited for pangasius farming, only two farms in Can Tho currently have contract agreements with businesses. The majority of farmers operate independently on a small scale. However, with pangasius prices now at 30,000–32,000 VND/kg, many farmers are looking to optimize the use of their existing ponds.

In Hieu Trung Commune, Tieu Can District, only two large-scale pangasius farms remain, with pond sizes ranging from 500 to 1,500 m². Vo Hoang Bao, a farmer in Cay Gon Hamlet, Hieu Trung Commune, harvested over 30 tons of pangasius from a 500 m² pond in early 2025, selling at around 32,000 VND/kg.

According to Tran Van Quan, Head of the Agriculture and Environment Office of Tieu Can District, approximately 2.5 hectares of pangasius farming are concentrated in Tan Hung, Hung Hoa, and Tan Hoa communes. With production costs averaging 27,000–28,000 VND/kg and current selling prices exceeding 32,000 VND/kg, farmers are earning an average profit of 4,000–5,000 VND/kg.

VFM