The striped fish is a catfish with scientific name (Pangasius macronema), this is a fish with high economic value in the market. Photo: Le Hoang Vu. In the framework of the Science and Technology project, a group of researchers from the Faculty of Fisheries (Can Tho University) and graduate student Tran Dong Phuong An, for the first time successfully artificially reproduced freshwater striped fish. The striped fish is a catfish with scientific name (Pangasius macronema), this is a fish with high economic value in the market. Currently, this fish species occurs in the wild quite few and concentrated in provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, Vinh Long and Can Tho city. In order to develop the economy, recently, many farmers in some provinces in the upstream of the Mekong River have caught fish in the wild and brought back to raise them in rafts on the Tien and Hau rivers with industrial food for sale. commodity. Currently, striped fish is sold in the market at a high price of 120,000 – 130,000 VND/kg, while in restaurants the price is from 250,000 to 300,000 VND/kg. For the first time, successfully artificially reproduced freshwater striped fish. Photo: Le Hoang Vu. According to the project team, after nearly 4 years of research, this is the first time to successfully stimulate artificial reproduction of striped fish and it is expected that this breed will be replicated and provided to farmers in 2023. This was approved by the City Department of Science and Technology. Sponsored by Can Tho.

Eel farming according to new model. (Photo: Anh Tuyet/VNA) Farmers in Can Tho city are very excited because intensive farming of field eels using water circulation technology has helped them stabilize their livelihoods and get rich with typical products. This is a research achievement that has been implemented into reality by scientists of the Can Tho University . Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Thanh Liem, Head of the Department of Freshwater Aquaculture Technology, Can Tho University, Head of the project, shared from the fact that eel farming households in Can Tho are implementing two projects. farming, with soil and without soil with plant media or bamboo/nylon blisters all have limitations. Because, for the farming model with land, the stocking stock is large in size, often using natural seed, the food used is trash fish or homemade food, low density, eels hiding in the mud become a hindrance in the management of feed and health of farmed eels. In landless farming model , if it is an eel obtained from the wild, the growth and yield are lower than the land culture model. The rate of water change in both farming methods ranges from 1-1.3 times/day with 100% fresh water. Both of the above methods give low eel farming productivity of less than 10kg/m2. If the stocking density is increased, the water exchange rate will increase and increase the risk of disease, environmental pollution and food safety. Since 2018, the research team has implemented the intensive farming model field eels by water circulation technology. This is a model that meets food safety and traceability requirements, while maintaining environmental quality and protecting natural resources. The strength of the model is the application of technical and biological solutions, self-cleaning and reuse of water sources, increasing the maximum eel farming density up to 600 fish/m2 and increasing productivity to 25kg. commercial eel/m2. The productivity of farmed eel also increased from 2.5-4 times compared with conventional farming model; profit efficiency is from 36.5-60.2%. Households raising eel under the new model ensure safe operation, control of pathogens, health and quality of farmed eel products; minimize the rate of water change, increase the output of cultured eel; improve and increase the growth rate, eel quality and production efficiency; allows the treatment of contaminated water and helps control the discharge process. Thereby, contributing to environmental protection; forming and developing farming technology to create clean, high-quality products, meeting the needs of consumers. Currently, the model is starting to be transferred and deployed in a number of breeding and commercial eel farming sites in Can Tho city. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tan, owner of Binh Thuy farm, Long Tuyen ward, Binh Thuy district has implemented the eel farming model in the form of water circulation since 2019, on a test area of ​​30m2, including 5 tanks, each tank is 6m2. The culture tank is designed to connect to the water circulation system including a biological filter tank, a solid waste settling tank and a water tank. The flow of water through the aquarium is adjusted from 0.5-0.8 liters/min. Black nylon rope is tied into a beam with a length of 20-30 cm, used for sheltering eels. This cord is cleaned daily and renewed once a month. Model of an eel tank based on water circulation technology. (Photo: Anh Tuyet/VNA) Eels are incubated for 90 days, size from 1.4-3.2g/head. Eel feed is industrial pellets, with 41% protein content. Instead of having to change the water every day like the old model, in the water recirculation model, the water is changed every 2-3 weeks. This helps farmers reduce labor costs, water costs, as well as help stabilize the water quality of the aquarium, and the eels are healthier and faster. After 8-9 months, commercial eels can reach 400g / head, farmers’ profits doubled compared to the old model. “In the commercial eel farming group of Binh Thuy district, there are currently more than 10 households out of 40 members who have switched to raising eels using water circulation technology. In general, the model is quite easy to install, the initial cost is The income is not high. The members are aware of supporting each other in farming techniques as well as product output. Therefore, most of the farming households give quite positive feedback,” said Mr. Tan. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Thanh Liem, in the near future, the model will be replicated in Ninh Kieu and Phong Dien districts. The purpose is to support farmers to increase the technology content in farming and farming.

Professor Vo Tong Xuan was an international student in Japan in 1974. He studied at Kyushu University with research topics related to rice cultivation techniques in the tropics and completed his Doctoral Program ( Agronomy) here. After returning home, he continued to work at Can Tho University and together with Japanese researchers continue to do research topics related to rice cultivation techniques; publish many scientific articles, dissemination articles on agricultural techniques and policies on the mass media. Then, as a pioneer in the academic exchange between Japan and Vietnam in the field of Agronomy, he built the first foundation for cooperation between the two sides and delivered exert his best in this role. In 1997, as a research fellow and visiting lecturer of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, he came to Japan for 1 year and had many research related to the model. Japan’s agricultural cooperative, as well as acting as a focal point for arranging study tours in Japan for Vietnamese farmers and policy-makers. After returning home, based on the research results at Kyoto University, he gave many introduction about agricultural policy, especially Japanese agricultural cooperatives, Japanese agricultural techniques in Japan. conferences in Vietnam. In addition, as an agronomist, he has made great contributions to strengthening cooperation in the agricultural sector between Japan and Vietnam through Japan’s ODA Cooperation Programs. ..

Professor Vo Tong Xuan (right) was honored to receive the Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Photo: B.NG Professor Vo Tong Xuan studied in Japan in 1974, studying at Kyushu University with research topics related to rice cultivation techniques in the tropics and completed his doctoral program (Agronomy) here. After returning home, he continued to work at Can Tho University and together with Japanese researchers continued to work on topics related to rice cultivation techniques and together published many articles. science, popularization of agricultural techniques and policies. Then, as a pioneer in academic exchanges between Japan and Vietnam in the field of agronomy, he built the first foundation for cooperation between the two sides. In 1997, as a researcher and visiting lecturer at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University, he came to Japan for 1 year and had many studies related to the agricultural cooperative model of Japan, as well as acting as a focal point for study tours in Japan for Vietnamese farmers and policy makers. After returning home, he introduced about agricultural policies, especially agricultural cooperatives and agricultural techniques of Japan. He also has many contributions to strengthening cooperation in the agricultural sector between Japan and Vietnam through Japan’s ODA cooperation programs. Typically the first Japanese cooperation program on agricultural engineering training through a cooperation project with the Faculty of Agriculture, Can Tho University (1970-1975), in the framework of a tripartite cooperation. Japan’s first time in Africa in the program “African Rice Development Alliance” initiated by JICA, advised and had many contributions in the “Technical Improvement Project to improve rice yield in the region. area of ​​Nante, Zambezia province, Mozambique ”(period 2011-2015) …

The program offers 26 promising rice varieties for farmers to choose Most of the varieties selected are adapted to climate change After visiting the fields, the program interviewed farmers to know how they chose rice varieties Farmers answered the questions of the program The characteristics of promising rice varieties are hard, high yield, good quality rice, meeting export demand This is a cooperation program between Can Tho University and An Giang province in the current period. This cooperation aims to help 224 seed groups in the province, select and create promising rice varieties, and then the program supports farmers to do the following procedures, proposing to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. receiving nationwide circulation. The program gave 26 promising rice varieties for farmers to choose. Accordingly, the majority of farmers choose rice varieties 1,2, 9 and 26. On the basis of the evaluation of promising rice varieties, the institute will do the following procedures to support farmers to carry out the manual procedures. received nationwide circulation and named new rice varieties.