Developing sustainable mangrove based polyculture model (shrimp-crab-mud clam) in Duyen Hai District, Tra Vinh Province

Objectives

The project aims to develop and trial mangrove based policulture system to contribute to the environmental protection and to improve the community livelihood. The project will develop demonstration pilots in Duyen Hai district, Tra Vinh province. The successfulness of the pilots will support local government in sustainable aquaculture planning adapting to the climate change effects.

Background

In recent years, mangrove forests, rice fields and fruit orchards have been replaced with shrimp ponds. Although shrimp farms can provide a fast income, environmental degradation and poor water quality can lead to epidemic disease. In the past three years, many shrimp farms have been abandoned due to failure in productivity, seriously impacting the social and economic cohesion of the area.

Target beneficiaries

• Six households as demonstration plots to participate in the project
• Community and local government access to model information and knowledge of farming practices.

Outputs

• Six polyculture models (Shrimp - Crab – Mud Clam) integrated in mangroves.
• 1,000 information leaflets
• An article is published in the Agriculture and Rural Development Journal and other relevant journals.

Accomplishments and challenges

The model of mangrove-based shrimp-crab-clam farming implemented in Duyen Hai District was more efficient than other combined farming models. According to results recorded in farmers’ log-books, the average aquaculture yield of the three households in Long Vinh Commune reached 1,243 kg / ha / year with the average profit of 71 million / ha / year while the average yield of the three households in Truong Long Hoa Commune was 602 kg / ha / year with the average profit of 25 million profit / ha / year.

The average yields of 6 participating households differed very markedly. The household of Bui Thanh Cong had the highest yield of 1,382.73 kg / ha / year, followed by the household of Tran Thanh Tan with 1,377 kg / ha / year and the household of Ly Hung Be had the lowest yield of 396.51 kg / ha / year.

Besides the differences in aquaculture yields, profits made by the six households were also remarkably different. The household of Tran Thanh Tan made the highest profit of 89.21 million VND / ha / year, followed by the household of Bui Thanh Cong with 79.32 million VND / ha / year.

Thus the results of this pilot project have proved improvements in productivity and profitability compared to some previous farming models.

Contributions to cross-cutting themes

• Gender equality
• Climate change adaptation

Lessons Learned

To implement the mangrove-based farming model successfully, it is necessary to locate a mangrove-based farming area which meets the requirements of polyculture.

It is very important to stock ponds with seeds on local schedule.

The mangrove-based shrimp-crab-clam farming model should be disseminated to farming households in each commune because they are interested in and enthusiastic about implementing the model.