Success Stories In Asian Aquaculture - Library - Network of ...

7 Striped Catfish Aquaculture in Vietnam: A Decade of Unprecedented Development145implement sustainable production systems with best management practices (BMP)and GAP. Fortunately, there have been various pilot projects to implement sustainableproduction models, such as the demonstration of SQF-1000 (Safe & QualityFood) that started in 2005, GAP in 2007, and BMP project funded by ACIAR thatis being conducted jointly by the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific(NACA), Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia, Research Institutefor Aquaculture No. 2, and Can Tho University.7.9.1 MarketsThe export markets for Vietnamese catfish products have been diversified into morethan 80 countries and territories. However, the striped catfish industry in Vietnamhas faced new challenges that include increased requirements on food safety andtraceability, and taxation from importing markets. These could limit the export ofthe striped catfish products. The future of striped catfish products requires a properpolicy in widening export, expanding local and regional markets, and identifyingmarket demand in order to balance the production. Moreover, the development ofbrand image for striped catfish products from Vietnam is very important to retainthe existing and establish new markets.7.9.2 Organization of the IndustryThe existing status of striped catfish production chain is not well organized. Thelinkage among stakeholders or main actors, especially farmers, processors and suppliers(feeds, drugs, chemicals, and others), bankers, etc., has been rather weak orwithout an apparent linkage. Farmers are much more vulnerable in the productionchain. Therefore, a vertical linkage among main actors must be established urgentlyin order to share information, responsibility, and benefits.7.10 ConclusionsThe striped catfish farming plays a vital role in the aquaculture sector in Vietnam,and is in a fast growth phase in terms of culture area and production. Equally, it isimportant that this sector provides an acceptable “white fish” to the Western world,in place of the traditional white fish products such as cod, at a very reasonableprice. This species will continue to be a key aquatic export commodity of Vietnamand contribute increasingly to Vietnamese aquaculture production and to the economy,the great bulk of which will trickle down to the poor rural communities of theMekong Delta. The success of this industry can be attributed to advantages ofnatural conditions and accumulated efforts from research, trading, infrastructural