Shrimp harvest (Source: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – Developing criteria for providing loans for aquaculture, particularly shrimp raising, in the Mekong Delta was the focus of discussions at a workshop held on December 12 in the regional city of Can Tho.
The event, jointly organised by the Vietnam Fishery Association and OXFAM Vietnam, presented opportunities for stakeholders in the sector to share experience and facilitate access to financial assistance in the region.
President of the Association Nguyen Viet Thang highlighted the difficulties facing the sector in drawing foreign investment and accessing loans, particularly among small-scale producers as well as lacks of connection between production and consumption.
Meanwhile, enterprises and farmers in the sector have high demand for financial assistance to upgrade and expand their production to meet the requirements on sustainable development, Thang added.
As of 2014, the aquaculture industry produced 6.3 million tonnes of aquatic products and created jobs for about 4.7 million workers, according to Thang.
It also earned a record 7.9 billion USD from export to more than 160 nations and territories in the world.
The shrimp sector accounted for a half of the amount and created jobs for some 700,000 households.-VNA
