Farmers in Tri Luc commune check intercropping black tiger shrimp in rice fields before harvesting. Photo courtesy of Nhan Dan Newspaper
Tri Luc commune in Thoi Binh district proudly celebrates the achievement of ASC certification for nearly 565 hectares of black tiger shrimp intercropped on rice land. Mr. Chau Cong Bang, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ca Mau province, announced this remarkable accomplishment during a meeting at the Thoi Binh district's People's Committee on October 28.
The ASC label represents an international certification recognizing responsible seafood farming practices that minimize environmental impact, uphold labor regulations, and promote community well-being. Control Union, an esteemed global certification organization known for its fairness and objectivity, awarded this esteemed recognition.
Mr. Bang emphasized that attaining the world's first ASC Group label will significantly expand the reach of Ca Mau's black tiger shrimp products in discerning global markets. He stated, "This achievement not only enhances the value of local black tiger shrimp but also generates sustainable income for our farmers in the foreseeable future."
Tri Luc commune, with its 2,900 hectares of aquaculture, including 700 hectares dedicated to organic rice-shrimp production, predominantly cultivates aromatic rice varieties like ST24 and ST25. After over four years of dedicated efforts, 378 shrimp farms operated by 252 households in Tri Luc commune, covering an area of 565 hectares, have successfully obtained the ASC label.
Thanks to their clean and eco-friendly practices, these certified areas observe rice and shrimp outputs that command prices 1,000 to 3,000 VND/kg higher than non-certified regions.
The Ca Mau shrimp industry contributes significantly, accounting for 80% of the total production value and 49% of the province's agricultural production value. In the face of climate change challenges, Ca Mau's functional sectors are actively expanding sustainable rice-shrimp production models in eligible areas. Mr. Bang highlighted that the ASC Group certification is the initial step, setting the stage for Ca Mau province to strive for the ASC international label and other organic certifications for over 40,000 hectares of rice and shrimp by 2030.
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Technical and financial support for the model is being implemented within the project "Strengthening gender equality in the shrimp value chain and agribusiness investment in Vietnam and Southeast Asia" - GRAISEA 2 by Oxfam, MCD, ICAFIS, and RECERD in Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces, with funding from the Swedish Embassy.
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