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Catfish industry seeks irrigation cash
Provinces in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta want the Government to invest in irrigation systems to ensure sustainable development of tra catfish farming.
At a seminar in An Giang Province on Thursday, the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Devel-opment also asked Me-kong Delta provinces to focus on building water supply and wastewater treatment systems.
The institute has asked breeders to set aside half their breeding area for treating wastewater from their fish ponds.
The development of irrigation systems will help reduce water pollution that is threatening the resources of more than 20 million residents in the delta’s 13 provinces and cities as well as the water supply for regional agriculture, provincial officials said.
A zoning plan approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said 8,600ha will be earmarked for tra catfish farming by next year, aiming at an annual output of 1.25 million tonnes and export earnings of US$ 1.3-1.5 billion.
The total tra catfish breeding area in the Mekong Delta is expected to reach 13,000 ha by 2020.
vietnamnet, vietnamplus
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