Ca Mau shrimp receive international certification
Several shrimp farming households in Ca Mau have recently been awarded international certification under the BAP standard.
On August 16, Thoi Binh District in Ca Mau Province hosted a conference to review and share experiences on achieving BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices by the Global Aquaculture Alliance) certification for rice-shrimp farming in Bien Bach Dong Commune. This marks the first international certification for shrimp cultivation in Vietnam’s specialized rice-shrimp farming region in Ca Mau.
Nguyen Hoang Bao, Vice Chairman of the Thoi Binh District People’s Committee, highlighted in his opening remarks that the district has significant potential for developing the rice-shrimp farming model (which integrates rice cultivation with giant freshwater prawn and black tiger shrimp farming). This model is seen as climate-resilient and helps boost farmers’ incomes.
“The BAP certification has been successfully awarded to 231 households covering a total of over 696 hectares across six hamlets in Bien Bach Dong Commune. The most significant advantage of receiving BAP certification is that it addresses the issue of unsustainable shrimp farming for small-scale farmers, reduces environmental impacts, and aligns with sustainable development goals in environmental protection, social welfare, and food safety,” Bao explained.
Nguyen Van Thuong, a resident of Hamlet 6 La Cua in Bien Bach Dong Commune, Thoi Binh District, owns 3.2 hectares of land, where the rice-shrimp model generates an annual income of about 200 million VND for his family.
“Compared to traditional methods, the rice-shrimp model with BAP certification fetches higher prices, and farmers receive training, technical support, and probiotics. We’re thrilled that our shrimp have received international recognition,” Thuong shared.
With BAP certification, farming households involved in linked production chains will have all their shrimp (both black tiger shrimp and giant freshwater prawns) purchased by affiliated enterprises.
Buyers can also be assured of a clean, sustainable, and traceable supply of shrimp that meets global standards. This provides a favorable opportunity for Ca Mau to promote its shrimp products in the international market.
VFM
