Tra fish association established to improve breeding development
Tra fish is processed at Binh An Seafood Co in the Mekong Delta Province of Can Tho. The foundation of the Viet Nam Tra Fish Association is aimed at boosting the development of the tra fish breeding industry. — VNA/VNS Photo Duy Khuong
CUU LONG DELTA (VNS)— The Viet Nam Tra Fish Association (VTFA) was established at a congress held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on Saturday, aiming to boost the development of the tra fish breeding industry.
The congress elected 47 members for the VTFA’s Executive Committee, with Nguyen Viet Thang, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, as the association’s chairman for the 2013-2015 term.
VTFA currently has 143 members from provinces and cities across the country.
According to reports released at the congress, areas under tra fish breeding in the Mekong Delta have declined by 1.03 per cent annually between 2008 and 2012.
Areas under tra fish breeding in the Mekong Delta now stand at about 6,000 hectares, mainly located along Tien (Anterior Mekong) and Hau (Posterior Mekong) rivers, with farmers’ efforts focused on enhancing tra fish quality and values.
The association is targeting tra fish output of 1.2 to 1.5 million tonnes by 2015, with 800,000 tonnes of tra fish products for export and 150,000 tonnes for domestic consumption.
With these targets, the country’s tra fish sector can earn export turnover of US$1.8 to $2.25 billion, and create employment opportunities for 23,000 labourers.
Nguyen Huu Khanh, former Secretary of An Giang Party Committee and ex-chairman of Viet Nam Fishery Association, said the association was established after more than a decade of difficulties facing the country’s tra fish sector.
Khanh added the newly formed association would help defend farmers’ legitimate rights and encourage healthy and fair competition. —VNS