Thanks to high quality aquaculture, Xuan Neo Aquatic Product Xuan Neo (Hung Dao Commune, Tu Ky District) is one of the most developed cooperatives in Hai Duong Province.

The cooperative only uses selected feed to assure quality of fish

“As Vietnam joined WTO products became free to flow, yet the fact that farmers still keep scattered, small scale production will only get them to become unable to compete with other units. Therefore, I decided to establish a cooperative specilized in clean and high quality aquaculture with 7 friends”, said Mr. Pham Van Phuc, Director of Xuan Neo Aquatic Product Cooperative.

In 2006, the cooperative officially came into the business with 35 members and nearly 26 ha of pond. After 10 years, overcoming many difficulties, the cooperative has been supporting its 45 household members in total 53 ha of ponds generating 700 tons of fish yearly. It also help members with consumption in Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, etc.

As following process and assuring food safety, the cooperative earned the deal to provide hundreds tons of tilapias to Ha Long Fish Freezing and Export Factory (Quang Ninh) for processing and exporting to Europe. In order to create advantage, brand for itself and improve its competitiveness, the cooperative is especially focus on product quality and how to assure it.

In each era, the cooperative finds new flexible operation way so as to meet market’s needs. However, despite the case, the invariable principle is that products must be clean and in high quality. Thus, the cooperative set up its own strict production process starting from breed selection to harvesting.

Mr. Pham Van Phuc stated: “We constantly take the initiative to monitor, check up on and accompany with farmers in all stages from farming to harvesting and consumption. Breeds are bought at reputable agencies by the cooperative, feed is origin guaranteed and free of forbidden antibiotics. Breeds are from Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 and Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong Center for Marine Breeding. And that isn’t all of it, purchased fish are sent to the Provincial Sub-Department of Fisheries for quality checking.

Along with breed selection, harvesting is also very concerned. Harvested fish are transported to water tanks to assure the clean factor. The fish are supposed to spend one day in the tank to eliminate all leftovers and toxins before being marketed.

Additionally, the cooperative consults its members on replacing tradition breeds like barb and major carp with fish high in economic efficiency such as red tilapia (60,000-65,000 dong/kg), hybrid carp (60,000 dong/kg), snakehead (80,000 dong/kg), etc. The cooperative also usually organize training in techniques to select good breeds, feed, husbandry for members.

Mr. Doan Ngoc Vinh, a member of the cooperative shared: “After joining the cooperative, my family gained the access to technologies, large scale aquaculture following proper process from breed selection to harvesting, thus, we generate high yield with fair income. One hectare of red talapi and tilapia farming generates 400-450 million dong per year in income.”

Hung Giang & Tran Ho - translated by Minh Hue
Nguồn: Nong Nghiep Viet Nam - https://nongnghiep.vn/