Shrimp - rice wins together
Having just harvested 0.5 hectares of ST25 rice variety planted on shrimp farming land, Mr. Ma Van Hong - Director of Hoa De Agriculture and Fisheries Cooperative (Hoa Tu commune, Can Tho city) said that all the rice was kept for milling and selling rice, instead of selling fresh rice. According to Mr. Hong, this method has been maintained for the past 3 years and has brought clear efficiency when rice prices increase steadily year by year, and output is stable.
ST25 rice in the shrimp - rice area is pre-ordered by customers, the selling price is proposed by consumers. Previously it was only about 22,000 VND/kg, then it increased to 30,000 VND/kg and now it is about 35,000 VND/kg," Mr. Hong said.
Mr. Hong added that Hoa De Agriculture and Fisheries Cooperative has maintained the shrimp-rice intercropping model for decades. In the saltwater season, people raise shrimp; in the freshwater season, they grow rice. Since ST25 rice was honored as "World's Best Rice", most farmers in the salty-sweet region have switched to cultivating this specialty rice variety thanks to its soil compatibility, low pests and diseases, and high economic value.
Currently, the cooperative produces about 32 hectares, of which nearly 25 hectares are cultivated with ST25 in an organic direction. On shrimp farming land, farmers hardly use chemical fertilizers or pesticides, mainly taking advantage of natural fertilizer sources from shrimp ponds and excess feed. Thanks to that, fertilizer costs are only about 80,000-90,000 VND/cong/crop, much lower than producing pure rice.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Khoa in Hoa Tu commune (Can Tho City), who has been associated with the shrimp-rice model for 25 years, said that this model brings clear efficiency and is suitable for farming conditions in the locality. According to him, each year with 1 shrimp crop and 1 rice crop helps limit losses, improve the bottom of the farming pond, and improve soil fertility, creating a sustainable and long-term production foundation.
Mr. Khoa said that this year, the production situation is quite favorable. He raises shrimp from the beginning of the year to the end of August, the beginning of September of the lunar calendar, then discharges water to sow rice. In the Winter-Spring crop, ST25 rice yields about 700 kg/cong, the selling price reaches 8,000 VND/kg, bringing profits to farmers.
Climate adaptation
According to Mr. Tang Thanh Chi - Head of the Economic Department of Gia Hoa commune (Can Tho City), in 2025, the locality will sow rice on shrimp farming land with an area of 1,874 hectares, of which ST rice variety accounts for over 42%. ST rice yield averages 6-6.5 tons/ha, profit is about 25-30 million VND/ha.
Mr. Chi assessed that the shrimp-rice rotation model is a sustainable production direction, suitable in the context of climate change and saltwater intrusion. In the brackish water season, people raise black tiger shrimp and white leg shrimp; in the freshwater season, grow rice, combined with raising giant river prawns and growing crops on the dyke to increase income.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City has just consulted on the draft Plan for developing the shrimp-rice region in 2026 to stabilize livelihoods and develop sustainably, adapting to climate change. Accordingly, Hoa Tu, Ngoc To, Nhu Gia, Gia Hoa, Luong Tam, Vinh Vien communes... are identified as key areas, flexibly applying models of 1 crop of black tiger shrimp - 1 crop of rice or 2 crops of whiteleg shrimp - 1 crop of rice/year.
The city continues to maintain and replicate effective shrimp-rice models associated with irrigation investment. The total area of shrimp-rice areas in 2026 is about 17,700 ha, of which rice accounts for 55%.
In 2026, Can Tho City will build 3 models to support the development of shrimp - rice production in Luong Tam, Ngoc To and Hoa Tu communes, supporting seeds, feed, techniques, consumption linkages and product certification. The Ministry of Agriculture strives for 100% of shrimp farming households in the shrimp - rice area to be granted key codes, and at the same time form at least one production - consumption linkage chain to serve as a basis for expansion in the coming time.
