In 2024, the Cage Fish Farming Cooperative Group of Duong To Commune, Phu Quoc City (Kien Giang) was established. After 2 years, the Cage Fish Farming Cooperative has made strong progress, helping people link production, develop the economy, and bring a stable source of income to households.
According to statistics, Duong To commune, Phu Quoc city has more than 20 households raising fish in cages with nearly 100 rafts, mainly purple carp, catfish, catfish, yellow carp, bird fish... Many households have been raising fish for more than 20 years, but mainly individual farming, so they limit the search for breeds and product output. Based on the above reality, the Farmers' Association of Duong To commune has mobilized and established a Cooperation Group with 12 cage fish farming households to help farmers receive technical support and consumption markets.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, a fish farmer in Duong To commune, said: "My family has been raising fish for 20 years, before, when we were small-scale farmers, the cost and output were unstable, when joining the cooperative, the brothers supported the output to be stable. I see that the cooperative has brought profits not only to me but also to the members.
Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, another fish farming household in Duong To commune, also shared: "Before establishing a cooperative group, only that person knew and handled all of anyone's problems. Now that there is a zalo group, there is information that everyone posts and shares with each other, thereby knowing the price of fish, fish varieties, and medicine for treatment. Information is quick and convenient, the team members together to solve difficulties are very united".
Currently, the largest breeding group is still catfish, this is a popular type, with a selling price for traders from 200-250 thousand VND/kg depending on the time and weight of the fish. The average income of each household participating in the model is 300 million VND/household/year.
Mr. Tran Thanh Vu, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Duong To commune, said: Previously, people were strong enough to buy floating breeds on the market, but when raising them, the quality was unstable. Through the guidance, people can also choose suitable breeding units and ensure quality, making them feel more secure in raising them.
"Previously, before entering the cooperative, traders forced prices, now that there is no cooperative, they also have a firm grasp of the market with stable prices. We have advised the City Farmers' Association to borrow capital to support farmers with 40 million VND/household, and requested the city's policy bank to disburse loans to help people solve employment, thereby helping people have capital," Mr. Vu shared.
The profession of raising fish in cages at sea in Phu Quoc has been developing strongly, contributing significantly to the economic development to improve people's lives. However, to develop sustainable and effective cage fish farming, farming households on the island also hope that all levels and sectors will soon plan farming areas, arrange and organize cage farming and other aquatic species in the direction of focusing, linking production, linking the work of assigning marine areas, applying new scientific and technical advances.
Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Long, Vice Chairman of Duong To Commune People's Committee, said: "The Commune People's Committee continues to coordinate with the city's specialized agencies to provide marine and sea surface farming areas to households as well as cooperatives so that people have stable places to raise. Continue to propose policies to support the development of HDPE cage technology for people to ensure sustainability. In addition to orienting the input techniques of the breeding animals and ensuring output products, the commune government will coordinate with business agencies to plan output for the people in the coming time".
