Supporting farmers in shrimp-crab polyculture model integrated in mangrove forest in Tra Vinh Province

Objectives

The project aims to demonstrate ways to increase household income and improve livelihoods in coastal areas to protect the mangrove forest, mitigate natural disasters, improve climate adaptation, and reduce the wild catch of aquatic species. The project will demonstrate and promote a  mangrove based shrimp-crab polyculture model, improved pond design, and train communities in polyculture methods.

Background

Crab-shrimp polyculture in mangrove systems currently accounts for 80% of Duyen Hai District. However, due to inefficient farming techniques and a lack of knowledge, productivity remains lower than neighbouring provinces.

Target beneficiaries

• Five households will directly participate in models
• 125 households attending Farmer Field Day at successful demonstration plot.
• 450 household attending training workshop on technology transfer and best practice.
• Increased knowledge of farming and forest protection in the Duyen Hai District.

Outputs

• Five shrimp - crab nursing and culturing models
• Five Farmer Field Day workshops
• Twenty technology training classes
• Communication material

Accomplishments and challenges

The hatchery models that have been applied have seen the survival rate of 55-90 % (for shrimp) and 22 – 65% (for crabs) in hatcheries in the 1^st stage. The successful model witnessed the survival rate of 18 - 45 % for shrimp and 10 to 14.8 % for crabs during adult stage. The model has helped people improve family economic efficiency. But some households did not achieve the targeted survival rate. However, through the process of applying the model, local people have been aware of the importance of the early stage shrimp-crab hatching techniques; their knowledge and experience of hatching have been improved, thus contributing to improving the efficiency of the model in the near future as well as contributing to achieving the long-term goal of the project.

The project contributes to raising awareness of local people about the role and importance of mangrove ecosystems in sustainable shrimp and crab farming, thereby enhancing people’s responsibilities for the care and protection of mangrove ecosystems.

Contributions to cross-cutting themes

• Gender equality
• Climate change adaptation

Lessons Learned

For the model to achieve more efficiency, it is important to apply it seasonally, check the quality of seeds when they are stocked, follow scientific and technical applications in farming process; especially in the first phase, shrimp should be hatched before being stocked. It is essential to provide trainings and information dissemination to the people about the hatching process from the beginning (in early farming season) so that the people can understand and apply the techniques to the model for better efficiency.