Building a 1,500-hectare black tiger shrimp farming area certified to international standards

Mr. Tran Quoc Toan, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Thi Ky Commune, and Mr. Lam Thai Xuyen, Director of Minh Phu Certified Shrimp Social Co., Ltd., signed the memorandum of understanding.

The development of the shrimp farming area is oriented toward improving productivity, output, product quality, and value through the application of scientific and technological advances, restructuring farming methods, and reorganizing production, thereby creating a foundation for faster, more sustainable, and more efficient growth.

The planned area of 1,500 hectares will be implemented in three phases: Phase 1 (2026) will cover 500 hectares; Phase 2 (2027–2028) will expand to 1,000 hectares; and Phase 3 (2028–2030) will continue expansion to reach 1,500 hectares. The production model applied will be shrimp-rice rotational farming, with black tiger shrimp as the main cultured species, aiming to maximize ecological advantages, reduce disease risks, and increase economic value across the region.

The shrimp farming development plan focuses on completing zoning plans and investing in synchronized infrastructure suitable for the ecological conditions of each area. Priority will be given to expanding black tiger shrimp farming under improved extensive farming and shrimp-rice models associated with quality standards and international certifications such as ASC. Based on transportation, electricity, and irrigation planning, local authorities will review and invest in infrastructure to support the development of large-scale concentrated farming areas applying science and technology while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Production organization will be restructured along the value chain model by linking farming households into cooperative groups and cooperatives. Enterprises will play a central role in supplying inputs, purchasing outputs, and sharing risks. ASC-certified farming areas will prioritize partnerships with certified shrimp seed suppliers starting from 2026, while gradually assigning identification codes to farming zones and developing eco-labels for Ho Thi Ky shrimp and Ca Mau shrimp products. Internationally certified value-chain linkage models will also be developed and replicated.

Regarding market development, favorable conditions will be created for enterprises and cooperatives to participate in the Ca Mau Shrimp Festival, promote the advantages of ecological shrimp-rice farming, and attract major companies to invest in certified raw material areas. At the same time, mechanisms linking processing plants with farming areas will be improved, while branding, geographical indications, and stricter control of trade fraud will also be strengthened.

The application of science and technology will be accelerated through VietGAP and GlobalGAP production processes, while gradually expanding ASC-certified farming areas. Environmental management and disease prevention efforts will focus on waste control, environmental impact assessment, disease prevention awareness campaigns, and epidemiological monitoring.

Human resource capacity will be strengthened through training for management and technical staff, reinforcing cooperatives and cooperative groups, and providing training on traceability systems. In parallel, communication activities will be enhanced to raise community awareness and strengthen cooperation with international organizations such as MCD, World Fish Foundation, GIZ, and Mekong Organics in order to apply technological advances and promote clean shrimp farming models to both domestic and international markets.  

Mr. Lam Thai Xuyen, Director of Minh Phu Certified Shrimp Social Co., Ltd., presented the results of the survey and selection of farming households participating in the internationally certified shrimp project in Ho Thi Ky Commune in 2026. He also shared information on the advantages, challenges, and experiences gained in developing internationally certified shrimp farming areas in recent years.

Mr. Tran Quoc Toan, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Thi Ky Commune, delivered the opening remarks at the signing ceremony for the development of an internationally certified black tiger shrimp farming area for the 2026–2030 period in the commune.

Mr. Vo Minh Tri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of De Tay General Services Cooperative, shared experiences in mobilizing and encouraging local households to voluntarily participate in the internationally certified shrimp project.