Publication

Extensive Shrimp farming on the Mekong Delta in Vietnam is an important source of income and livelihood for many small scale farmers. This sector has been influenced by international market trends, fluctuating prices, diseases outbreaks and last but not the least climate variability in the recent years. The Mekong Delta has had a number of extreme climatic events in the past few years and is also subject to increasing saline water intrusion, for which there are already government operated barriers to regulate the saline water intrusion in some canals.

Shrimp farming in the lower Mekong Delta is practices in with a number of different production systems ranging from large scale intensive, semi-intensive and extensive. The extensive or “improved extensive” where some modifications/improvements have been made to the pond system, is the largest production system type by area and production and is largely characterised by small-scale farmers with <3ha in farm area per farmer/family.

Improved extensive shrimp farmers practice a number of different systems including reliance on naturally occurring shrimp (Penaeus merguiensis, P. indicus and Metapenaeus ensis) post larvae or juveniles in the influent water, while others are stocking with hatchery reared tiger shrimp (P. monodon).

The study is focusing on farmers raising P. monodon under improved extensive farming conditions. Farmers undertaking improved extensive farming also typically undertake polyculture of tiger shrimp with mud crab. Furthermore within the improved extensive tiger shrimp farming sector there are two broadly different systems, ie. with or without rice farming depending on salinity conditions. Farms with low salinity during the wet season culture rice during the low salinity period. Farms with high salinity throughout the year practice shrimp culture without rice culture.

Read more: Perception of climate change impacts and adaptation of shrimp farming in Ca Mau and Bac Lieu, Vietnam : http://library.enaca.org/emerging_issues/climate_change/2010/aquaclimate-report-2010-annex10.pdf