Until the end of November, more than 900 hectares of the provincial pangasius farming area have been harvested with the production of 341,884 MT, equal to 114 percent of the 2011 plan. In coming months,Dong Thap continues to harvest fish, bringing scheduled output of full year to surpass 350,000 MT.
According to Dong Thap Trade and Industry Department, local pangasius processing plants are struggling with severe shortage of raw material. This problem can persist in the first quarter of 2012 and affect the pangasius processing industry.
In the early months of this year, low raw pangasius price and higher cost of feed and other inputs has driven local farmers hesitant in restocking fish. Many processors could not purchase enough raw fish for their operation. Besides, pangasius production was hit by the floods. Plants worked at below of their capacity because source of raw material met only 60-70% of their demand.
Dong Thap Trade and Industry Department said the situation can continue in the first quarter of 2012. Some enterprises in the province have cooperated with farmers in enlarging pangasius farming area to ensure raw material for processing.
To realize the targeted production of 350,000 MT, the provincial government put forward some immediate solutions such as planning farming areas, directing farmers to produce as planning, encouraging enterprises in fish production towards vertical link, supporting the hatcheries, adopting sustainable pangasius standards such as BMP, VietGAP…