The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho is carrying out several projects that comply with the Ethnical Aquaculture Food Index (EAFI) standards set by Vietnam, Thailand, China and Bangladesh.

The index seeks to ensure high-quality products and sustainable livelihood for farmers as part of climate change adaptation activities.

Pham Van Quynh, director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the projects will pay special attention to hi-tech applications, international cooperation, human resources training, and food safety management.

He said the city will improve irrigation systems and expand its aquaculture area to 26,000 hectares by 2020.

Local businesses will be urged to take a more active part in meeting the ethical aquaculture standards as they strive to increase production to nearly 300,000 tonnes and earn export revenues of more than 7 billion USD by 2020, he added.

Can Tho’s seafood production for this year is projected at 180,000 tonnes.

In the first five months of this year, the city’s seafood production topped 55,000 tonnes, dominated by tra fish (44,000 tonnes).

It has so far exported 41,000 tonnes of processed seafood worth nearly 170 million USD.-VNA