To learn more about the production of baby clams which has taken a big step forward in Thai Binh Province, Nguyen Van Lu, an agricultural cadre from Nam Phu Commune, took us to visit the clamfarm owned by the family of Tran Ngoc Canh. There, we saw a bustling working atmosphere because it was the time for harvesting baby clams. All farmers were busy collecting baby clams and transporting them to near submerged fields for panning sand before releasing them on farms for raising or selling to other households in Tien Hai District.
Canh’s breeding area covers over 10ha and was invested with modern equipment and facilities, such as a system of water irrigation and roofs. Each year, his family harvests about 30 tonnes of baby clams which are sold to Thai Binh and Nam Dinh Provinces. His farm provides stable jobs for many locals and during peak times he also hires more people to harvest clams.
Canh said that the raising of artificial baby clams requires great technique and skill. The clams are not too tightly packed and should be raised at a density of 100kg/1,000m2 (about 50 thousands baby clams per kilo). All stages and conditions on the farms such as the temperature, environment and density must be ensured as required.
Many farmers in Nam Phu Commune (Tien Hai District, Thai Binh Province) has put much investment in
their baby clam raising farms to meet the demand of the market. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Raising seaweed which is the feed of baby clams. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Preparing fields for raising baby clams. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Nam Phu Commune in Tien Hai District, Thai Binh Province has alluvial areas which are favourable for mollusc raising. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Harvesting baby clams at a farm in Nam Phu Commune. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Classifying baby clams after harvesting. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Baby clams of three months are ready for being raised in farming areas. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Baby clam farms in Nam Phu provide jobs to many locals, especially during the harvesting season. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Releasing baby clams in farms. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Clam raising areas in Tien Hai District need a large number of baby clams. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Farmers in Nam Phu Commune have applied many techniques and scientific advances to aquaculture. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Harvesting seafood in Nam Phu Commune, Tien Hai District, Thai Binh. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP
Although being a newly established commune in the alluvial ground near the sea, Nam Phu Commune leads the province with a growth rate of 14%/year and contributes to the state budget of 5 billion dong. The commune has nearly 100 households raising baby clams which have an average income of at least 300 million dong/year. Besides, Tien Hai is also the first district where there are private companies which have invested in developing the model of raising baby clams and Truong Dai Company is a typical example. It raises baby clams on an area of 50ha in Nam Phu Commune and annually provides tonnes of baby clams for locals in Tien Hai and Nam Dinh. The company has invested in building a lab for research and producing seaweed for baby clams and hired foreign experts to supervise all water tanks for multiplying clams. With about 100 employees, the company has set up a modern process which is under the food hygiene quality management system, ensuring Vietnamese mollusca products to have competitive advantages for sustainable market expansion.
Thanks to the trade of raising baby clams, Nam Phu Commune has changed with every passing day and has become a bright spot in economic development in Tien Hai District.
Phan Van Tue, Chairman of Nam Phu Commune People’s Committee said: “Nam Phu is strongly developing with a total production value in the first six months of 2014 of 61 billion dong, of which agriculture and seafood reached 37 billion dong, accounting for 60.6% of the economic structure. The total area for aquaculture was 800 ha, mainly for shrimp and clams. At present, Nam Phu pays much attention to building an infrastructure for farming areas, forming integrated areas serving exports and domestic consumption and developing sustainable and effective aquaculture./.
Story: Bich Van – Photos: Viet Cuong
Đăng ký: VietNam News
