Overview of the forum
Amidst the challenges posed by climate change and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Vietnam Shrimp Forum was recently convened under the theme of "Application of science and technology in the sustainable development of Vietnam's shrimp industry." This significant event garnered tremendous participation, with over 520 attendees, including shrimp farmers, processing and exporting enterprises, policymakers, and scientists.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Phung Duc Tien, emphasized the forum's objective of exploring new avenues for economic development in agriculture, particularly in light of Vietnam's integration into the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The Deputy Minister stressed the importance of supporting the adoption of novel technological solutions to propel Vietnam's agricultural sector towards stable and sustainable growth.
During the discussions, it became evident that the implementation of advanced technologies, encompassing areas such as biotechnology, waste treatment, farm management applications, and market connectivity, has played a pivotal role in enhancing shrimp productivity and quality. This, in turn, has contributed to a significant increase in export turnover.
However, the application of technology in shrimp farming still encounters various challenges. These include the high initial investment costs, the fragmented and small-scale nature of producers, disparities in expertise among farmers, and inadequate infrastructure development in certain concentrated aquaculture regions. The delegates at the forum deliberated on multidimensional solutions aimed at addressing these bottlenecks and propelling the industry towards sustainable growth.
The Vietnam Shrimp Forum 2022 is part of the project "Strengthening Gender Equality and Responsible Agribusiness Investment in Southeast Asia" (GRAISEA), led by Oxfam in Vietnam, ICAFIS Center and the Directorate of Fisheries. organization, sponsored by the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok.
For further insights into the comprehensive range of solutions put forth by the forum delegates, please refer to the detailed proceedings of the Forum.
