Koen den Braber - Sarawak Development Institute

Organic AquacultureDevelopmentExperiencesandCase studiesfrom VietnamNguyen Thi Loan & Koen den BraberVNFU – ADDA Organic Agriculture ProjectPaper presented at the Conference "Organic ASIA– The Way Forward", October 28-31, 2008,Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia

Overview - production & market Very new concept: First field production: mid 1990s First certified production: end 1990s Area developing gradually: Latest figure is 21,867 ha (0.2%) Largest unit is 6,475 ha (extensive farming of organic shrimp inmangrove forest) Mostly driven by companies for export Main products: shrimp, fish (basa), tea, cashew, pineapple, spices(staranise,cinnamon, …), essential oils (citronella, …) Development of the local market very limited

Overview - certification Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued basicstandards for organic production and processing (Dec. 2006)but status is unclear No local certificiation organisations Exported produce certified by foreign-based COs: IMO, Control Union (SKAL), ICEA, ACT, … IMO and Control Union have offices in HCM City Discussion on PGS has started (ADDA project) withinvolvement producers, consumers, traders, NGOs, VNFU,research, …

Aquaculture in VietnamRapid growth in both area and production Production mainly from freshwater aquaculture (~ 55%),especially catfishExport value mainly from marine and brackish wateraquaculture, especially shrimp farming

Aquaculture in VietnamAquaculture important contributor to national GDP(from 2.1 % in 1996 to 5.8 % in 2005)At same time, contribution of marine fisheries is reducingHowever, with aquaculture intensification many problemsappear: water pollution, outbreak of diseases, problems with food qualityand safetyMore strict quality and safety control measures in theimporting countries (e.g, new labeling requirements, theconcept of traceability)Introduction of organic aquaculture and GAP

Case Study 1Organic Shrimp Production – Ca Mau