Visitors browse ornamental fish at a fair held in HCM City. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) - Ornamental fish farming is among the segments HCMCity targets to develop with the aim of boosting the whole agricultural sector.
In the first nine months of this year, over 15 million fish were exported for17 million USD, up 14 percent and 15 percent year-on-year, respectively.
In the last quarter, the city plans to export five million fish for 6 millionUSD.
Exports have risen sharply since 2015 when only 13 million fish were exportedfor 12 million USD.
Last year, at 18.2 million USD, they accounted for 13.2 percent of thecity’s total agricultural exports.
The municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported thereare about 290 farms breeding ornamental fish on a total area of 88.9ha.
They raise 60 freshwater fishes, including 40 hybrid varieties.
Thoi Bao Kinh Te Việt Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) newspaper reported that21 city companies export ornamental fish by air, the biggest being Sai GonOrnamental Fish Joint Stock Company.
They export to 43 countries and territories, with the EU being the biggestmarket, buying slightly more than half of all exports.
To develop the industry, the city has undertaken many programmes, includingsetting up a model under which participating companies have to properlymanage their breeding.
They have to comply with requirements for controlling risks,preventing fish from contracting diseases, reducing the impacts ofclimatic conditions, and improving their fish-raising skills.
Thanks to this, the breeders have been able to improve quality, raising theprofile of the Vietnamese ornamental fish industry.
As of June, seven farms had joined the programme.
But the industry also faces certain challenges.
The fish bred in the city are small in size and most farms lack properinfrastructure and raise the fish using traditional techniques.
A lack of research activities means there are no unique products introduced tothe market.-VNS/VNA
VNA
