Know-how turns shrimp breeders into billionaires

Thach Canh Quyet is one of dozens of farmers in Hamlet 12 in Hoa Binh District’s Vinh Hau A Commune who have become billionaires from breeding shrimps.

Quyet earned a profit of VND800 million (US$40,000) from harvesting his latest black tiger shrimp crop.

Industrial and semi-industrial shrimp farming is being pioneered in the hamlet in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta Province of Bac Lieu.

Quyet also sells shrimp feed and medicine and consults on farming techniques for local households preparing to breed the black tiger shrimp.

Hamlet 12 has become a wealthy area since it switched to shrimp farming in 1999.

Nguyen Van Muoi, deputy secretary of the Vinh Hau A Commune Party’s Committee, said: “Nearly 50 of more than 450 households in Hamlet 12 are now billionaires.”

Tran Minh Huong, head of Hamlet 12, said his family was one of the success stories there.

“Last year, my family earned a profit of VND1.5 billion from shrimp farming,” Huong said.

He said there was a lot of work and technical know-how involved before one could make the big money.

Do Manh Thuong, deputy director of the provincial Department of Science and Technology, said households in the hamlet were kept up to date on the latest in industrial farming and clean farming models to achieve the good incomes.

The price of black tiger shrimp with 30 heads per kilo purchased at ponds in the hamlet is now VND200,000 a kg, a record high.

Shrimp breeders in the hamlet said they were now renovating their ponds to prepare for this year’s crop.

Tags: Vietnam shrimps exports