Dong Thap – Flood season brings prosperity as farmers stock fish in rice fields
Farmers in Dong Thap are making the most of the annual flood season by stocking fish in inundated rice fields, boosting incomes, safeguarding aquatic resources, and offering visitors a taste of unique rural experiences.
In the upstream districts of Dong Thap, floodwaters have begun to fill the fields after the summer–autumn rice harvest. While some residents still harvest wild fish, many have turned to a “fish stocking” model, using seasonal floods to raise fish in the paddies. The approach not only creates a steady livelihood but also helps curb destructive fishing practices.
Community-driven fish protection
In Giong Bang Hamlet, Thuong Phuoc Commune, members of a local fish stocking group have pooled resources to fence off more than 150 hectares of rice paddies with bamboo stakes and netting. Launched in 2023, the initiative capitalises on existing fishing gear, keeping start-up costs low. Wild fish naturally enter the fields to breed and feed; when stocks run low, members release additional fish to replenish numbers.
In the 2024 season, the group harvested more than 10 tonnes of native species, including snakehead, climbing perch, and catfish, earning around VND 200 million (USD 7,800). Beyond the income boost, the system has reduced harmful practices such as electrofishing and small-mesh nets. Members take turns patrolling the perimeter, posting “No illegal fishing” signs to protect the stock.
Linking fish farming with tourism
The Quyet Tien Ecological Agriculture Cooperative in Phu Tho Commune runs a similar scheme over 170 hectares, involving 70 households. In 2024, it produced nearly 10 tonnes of fish worth over VND 220 million (USD 8,600). The cooperative has gone a step further by developing an experiential tourism programme: visitors can set fish traps, cast nets, pick yellow sesbania flowers, and enjoy rustic local dishes.
The tourism season runs from late July to October in the lunar calendar, after which activities shift towards rice farming experiences, keeping the attraction alive year-round.
Local authorities say the model offers both economic and ecological benefits, providing farmers with additional income while restoring biodiversity. Species once thought to have disappeared have returned to local waters.
Plans are underway to expand the practice, strengthen patrols, and enforce fishing regulations, with a long-term goal of integrating fish stocking into sustainable community-based tourism.
VFM
