Pioneer cold-water fish farms on Khau Pha Mountain have paved the way for a promising direction in Mu Cang Chai district. Now, there are four sturgeon farms which cover over 1.6 ha and supply nearly 90 tonnes of fish to the market every year.
According to breeders, the most important thing when raising sturgeon is to manage the water environment, including controlling the volume of oxygen, regulating a constant flow of water and maintaining a suitable water temperature. Therefore, solutions should be set forth to reduce the water temperature such as covering the fish tank with a net during the summer.
It is also essential to monitor the fish's growth to adjust the diet. The feeding must also be based on the water temperature. The fiss will eat more in warm water.
In addition to selling to traders in many provinces across the country, some farms also open restaurants, providing nutritious dishes for tourists.
In Tran Yen district, sturgeon are bred in Viet Hong commune with four small and medium-sized establishments. Of which, the model of Hoang Van Binh in Na hamlet is the largest one, which includes 11 tanks for commercial fish breeding and 24 fish hatcheries.
"After many years of breeding sturgeon, we have acquired the technique of hatching and raising commercial sturgeon,” Binh said.
Although this profession does not take much care, it requires high technical requirements, especially ensuring the supply of clean and cold water, he said, adding that the water temperature should be adjusted to the standard level so that the fish can grow well. Besides industrial feed, sturgeon can eat shrimp.
Commercial sturgeon will weigh from 2 to 2.5 kg per head or more after being raised for about 15 months and can be sold. Currently, Binh's facility can raise 5,000 commercial fish per one batch and earn 1.5 billion VND (64,300 USD). The consumption market is quite stable with an average selling price of 15,000 - 17,000 VND per baby fish. Commercial fish fetch 200,000 VND - 250,000 VND per kg, much higher than other farmed fish.
Sturgeon has also been successfully raised in Na Hau commune, Van Yen district, with investment from Na Hau Agriculture and Tourism Cooperative. There has been a collaboration of farmers, scientists, managers and traders. As a result, all the processes from farming to the sale of products are well operated in line with the value chain.
Currently, the cooperative has 13 members with an average output of over 20 tonnes per year, creating jobs and income for many Mong ethnic minority labourers in the locality.
Na Hau sturgeon has been certified as 3-star provincial-level product of the One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme in 2022. The cooperative has also applied VietGAP standards for Na Hau sturgeon brand.
Sturgeon farming in Yen Bai province has proved its efficiency as it brings high productivity, product quality, and great economic value; creating specific products for local tourism, contributing to changing the rural economic structure, creating jobs and raising incomes for local residents./.
Hoai Anh
