Giong Rieng is a rural district of Kien Giang province with terrain, land and water resources suitable for agricultural production.

The agricultural land area of ​​Giong Rieng district (Kien Giang province) is over 56,000 hectares, of which rice land is 46,600 hectares.

For many years, farmers in Giong Rieng have taken advantage of agricultural land to raise aquatic products in rice fields, ponds, and ditches...

The delicious fish raised by farmers in Giong Rieng district are carp, silver carp, bighead carp, etc.

These fish are easy to raise but their productivity and market price are low so profits are not high.

Implementing the plan of the Kien Giang Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, the Giong Rieng District Agricultural Extension Station has implemented the Program to develop freshwater specialty aquatic models, including a model of raising commercial giant catfish in earthen ponds using industrial feed.

Commercial catfish pond of farmers participating in the model in Hoa Hung commune, Giong Rieng district, Kien Giang province.

The implementation of this model is also from the policy of Giong Rieng district in diversifying crops and livestock to implement the Project on restructuring the agricultural sector.

According to Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Giong Rieng district, Tran Ngoc Khai, with the support of the Agricultural Extension Center of Kien Giang province, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Giong Rieng district has implemented a model of raising commercial giant catfish in earthen ponds using industrial feed.

Functional units of Giong Rieng district visited farmers participating in the pilot catfish farming model in Hoa Hung commune.

Farmers participating in the commercial giant barb farming model are supported with 60% of the cost of buying giant barb fry and 40% of the cost of feed for 18 months.

At the house of Mrs. Luu Thi Liem, Hoa Tan hamlet, Hoa Hung commune, Giong Rieng district, Kien Giang province, she is one of the farmers selected to pilot the model of raising commercial giant barbs in ponds using industrial feed.

Initially, Ms. Liem released 500 giant catfish fry on a 500 m2 pond because the stocking density for giant catfish is only 1 fish/m2.

According to Ms. Liem, the price of giant barb fry is 18,000 VND/fish. They must be of uniform size, not scratched, have bright colors, react quickly, and ensure the weight when released is 18 fish/kg.

The transferred giant barb fry must be soaked in the pond for 10 - 15 minutes to balance the temperature, then use a basin of salt water mixed with 50g/10 liters of water and soak the fry for 3 - 5 minutes to treat external parasites.

Ms. Liem said that the most difficult part of raising giant catfish is feeding them in the early stages, from 1-3 months old. At this time, the giant catfish are still small so they eat at the bottom, and we have to find a way to make the food sink completely. Only after the third month do the giant catfish start to eat on the surface of the water.

Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Giong Rieng district, Kien Giang province - Mr. Tran Ngoc Khai said that through the process of implementing the model of raising commercial giant catfish in ponds using industrial feed, farmers have basically followed the prescribed technical process from the stage of preparing the pond, managing the pond environment, and taking care of the fish.

Technical staff of the Agricultural Extension Station also regularly inspect and guide farmers in implementing technical procedures and promptly handle unusual incidents that occur during the farming process.

Following the 18-month farming schedule, with 500 giant catfish raised in each model, the average weight will be over 2 kg/fish, and the output of giant catfish will reach over 1,000 kg.

The market price of commercial barramundi fish is 200,000 VND/kg. After deducting the initial cost of feed and seeds, each farmer participating in the model can earn a profit of over 140 million VND.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Giong Rieng district, Kien Giang province, the model of raising commercial giant catfish in ponds using industrial feed initially brought high economic efficiency to farmers.

In particular, suitable for local natural conditions, the growth period of giant catfish is suitable for farmers to easily apply the model. In the near future, the giant catfish farming model will continue to be maintained and expanded in many other localities in Giong Rieng district, Kien Giang province so that farmers can participate in the implementation, helping to improve the economic life of households.

Accordingly, the agencies in the agricultural sector of Giong Rieng district and Kien Giang province continue to support and create conditions for farmers to apply the model of raising commercial giant catfish in ponds using industrial feed, in order to diversify agricultural products, contributing to increasing the income of farmers in rural areas.