The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang aims to harvest 56,000 tonnes of shrimp in 2015, a 9 percent increase from 2014, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

To achieve the goal, the local aquaculture sector will focus on raising tiger and white-leg shrimp, while providing training on cultivation techniques and disease prevention to farmers.

Additionally, it will also allocate funds for building and upgrading infrastructure, especially saltwater-supply irrigation and power systems, and continue to encourage locals to apply advanced technologies in farming.

Kien Giang plans to enlarge industrial- and semi industrial-oriented aquaculture areas by 3,000 hectares in Long Xuyen Quadrangle in the coming year, while maintaining the existing 66,000 hectares of alternated shrimp and rice farming in U Minh Thuong.

At the same time, the province intends to focus on efforts related to breeding and environmental protection and management.

With over 90,500 hectares dedicated to aquaculture, Kien Giang produced 51,430 tonnes of shrimp in 2014, up 22.52 percent compared to 2013 and equivalent to 98.9 percent of the yearly target.-VNA