At the conference Speaking at a seminar to discuss solutions to boost Vietnam's fish sauce exports this afternoon in Hanoi, the Vietnam Association of Fish Sauce in collaboration with the Vietnam Cuisine Culture Association (VCCA) and Agrotrade under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a seminar on ‘Promoting export exporting fish sauce - orientation and solutions’. According to the Vietnam Association of Fish Sauce, exporting fish sauce is the goal of manufacturers and traders in this industry globally. Vietnam is a country favored by nature and has a long experience in fish sauce production. According to the Agrotrade, the country currently has more than 4,200 fish sauce production facilities with an average output of nearly 380 million liters in 2020. In recent years, not only serving domestic consumption needs, Vietnam's fish sauce products are also promoting the application of science and technology and strict standards for ensuring safety and hygiene … [Read more...] about Vietnam oriented toward fish sauce export
Farmed fish species
Closing event of Rethinking Plastics heralds new age of combatting plastic pollution
At the event, participants concluded the implementation of Rethinking Plastics’ four pilot projects in sustainable consumption and production of plastics, plastic waste management on land and sea, as well as awareness-raising activities. The event also aimed at enhancing the policy dialogue between the EU and Vietnam on plastic pollution, the transition to a circular economy, and publicly closed the activities of the Rethinking Plastics project in the country. In Vietnam, the project – financed by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development – cooperated closely with MoNRE and other ministries and partners since 2019 to develop regulatory frameworks and concrete actions to avoid, reduce, and better recycle plastics. The Closing Event of the Rethinking Plastics saw the participation of high-ranking officials from the EU and Vietnam, as well as stakeholders that cooperated towards the success of the project Giorgio Aliberti, EU … [Read more...] about Closing event of Rethinking Plastics heralds new age of combatting plastic pollution
Ben Tre emerging destination of ecotourism, river-based tours
Visitors take a boat tour around a nipa palm farm in Ben Tre province. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, renowned as the kingdom of coconut and for its large acreages of fruit farming , is striving to become a top destination for ecotourism and river-based tours. ecotourism projects in Ben Tre is Nghenh Xuan Farmstay in Thanh Trieu commune in the district of Chau Thanh, which lies on the banks of Thanh Trieu River. Visitors pick fruits in a farmstay in Ben Tre province. (Photo: VNA) Guests of the farmstay can take part in a wide range of adventures here, from river swimming, boat trips to fishing and cycling in the neighbouring countryside, he said, adding that the farmstay also cooperates with ten plantations to offer the guests sight-seeing and fruit-picking tours. VNA … [Read more...] about Ben Tre emerging destination of ecotourism, river-based tours
Kiên Giang Province farmers switch to cajuput
Tourists go through a cajuput forest in Kiên Giang Province’s Giồng Riềng District. The forest is owned by farmer Dương Văn Minh. – VNA/VNS Photo Lê Huy Hải KIÊN GIANG – More farmers in Kiên Giang Province’s Giồng Riềng District have switched to growing cajuput trees on unproductive rice fields, fallow areas and lands with acid sulphate soil, optimal places for them to grow. The model of growing cajuput in combination with breeding bees for honey and fish and snails offers them a good income. Dương Văn Minh has a 22ha cajuput forest in Thạnh Lộc Commune’s Thạnh Lợp Hamlet and breeds bees, freshwater fish and other aquatic species in the forest. The trees are one to three years old and house 120 bee hives. He used to grow rice but the acid sulfate soil in his land affected growth. Now he harvests up to five hectares of cajuput a year, he said. The wood is used for construction, making paper and furniture. He is expanding the area under cajuput and making … [Read more...] about Kiên Giang Province farmers switch to cajuput
Sóc Trăng Province strengthens protection of fisheries resources
Local authorities release shrimp and crab juveniles into the sea to regenerate fisheries resources in Sóc Trăng Province’s Trần Đề District in April. – VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Trung Hiếu SÓC TRĂNG – The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Sóc Trăng has taken a number of measures to protect its natural fisheries resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods for its people. Its coastline of more than 72km includes large mudflats that are habitats for clams and other aquatic species. In Cù Lao Dung District and Vĩnh Châu Town, mudflats contain around 140 tonnes of clam seeds, according to the province Fisheries Sub-department. They have high value and a fishing boat can earn around VNĐ1 million (US$43) a day from catching the bivalve molluscs, but their quantity has declined significantly in recent years due to several reasons including overfishing. Đỗ Văn Thừa, deputy head of the Cù Lao Dung Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the quantity of clams caught now was only … [Read more...] about Sóc Trăng Province strengthens protection of fisheries resources
Part 3: Upholding VNLOS is upholding international law
Reporter: The adoption of VNLOS could be considered the localization of the UNCLOS in Vietnam. Could you please elaborate more about the policy and principles of Vietnam when applying the above two legal documents to the demarcation of waters and dealing with arising issues at sea in reality, sir? Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh: First, There are two basic legal documents that we rely on when exploiting resources, protecting and operating in Vietnamese waters. They are UNCLOS internationally and VNLOS domestically. At present, there are a lot of conventions, international laws or legal documents. They are not issued by any courts, but built based on the commitments of coastal and island states. Due to the characteristics of UNCLOS, each country needs to devise its own law of the sea, but basically all of those laws must comply with and be based on UNCLOS. Generally, international conventions or laws at large, not only on the sea, are loose to some extents, but first … [Read more...] about Part 3: Upholding VNLOS is upholding international law
Life in the abyss, a spectacular and fragile struggle for survival
Cloaked in darkness and mystery, the creatures of the deep oceans exist in a world of unlikely profusion, surviving on scant food and under pressure that would crush human lungs. This extremely hostile environment, which will come under the spotlight at a major United Nations oceans summit in Lisbon this week, has caused its inhabitants to develop a prodigious array of alien characteristics and idiosyncratic survival techniques. A vast assortment of animals populate the sunless depths, from the colossal squid, which wrapped its tentacles around the imaginations of sailors and storytellers, to beings with huge cloudy eyes, or whose bodies are as transparent as glass. And the angler fish, with its devilish looks illuminated by a built-in headlamp, showing that the deep dark is alive with lights. 'Incredible' creatures Until the middle of the 19th century, scientists believed that life was impossible beyond a few hundred metres. "They imagined that there was nothing, … [Read more...] about Life in the abyss, a spectacular and fragile struggle for survival
Vietnamese farmers downbeat over tumbling Thai jackfruit prices
The farm gate prices for Thai jackfruit in Vietnam's Mekong Delta have dropped by VND2,000-3,000 (8-12 U.S. cents) per kilogram, but farmers are still struggling to find buyers, forcing many to leave jackfruits piling up in their gardens or use the crop as animal feed. Hoang Van Linh, a resident of Cai Lay District of Tien Giang Province, said his garden is full of ripe jackfruits, but traders simply are not interested. Linh has resorted to giving the harvest to family and friends. He switched from growing durians to jackfruits in 2016 when saltwater intrusion began affecting his growing operation. Now, with durians selling for VND40,000-50,000 ($1.7-2) per kilogram, he regrets the decision. “The Thai jackfruit trees on my farm are bursting with ripe fruits, but no one wants them,” complained Nguyen Van Tu, another farmer in Cai Lay District. Three years ago, when jackfruit prices were at VND40,000 per kilogram, Tu’s family was able to earn about VND5 million ($215) per … [Read more...] about Vietnamese farmers downbeat over tumbling Thai jackfruit prices
Hanoi develops green agriculture
Green agriculture is a closed production process through applying scientific and technical advances, biotechnology and physicochemical technology. Green agriculture is a sustainable direction that Hanoi has been making effort to develop, according to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Manh Phuong. Green agriculture is an inevitable orientation of modern agriculture, Phuong said, adding that Hanoi has recently switched more than 40,227 hectares of rice land to new agricultural production models. Besides, developing green agriculture also helps to raise people's awareness on environment protection, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, the deputy director stressed. Rice cultivation by modern method brings high efficiency in Hanoi outskirt district of Ung Hoa. Photo: Ngoc Anh Head of the Ung Hoa District Economic Division Pham Van Hoach said that in nearly 20 years of implementing green … [Read more...] about Hanoi develops green agriculture
Seafood exporters face challenging second half of 2022: conference
Seafood exporters in Vietnam may find the second half of 2022 a challenging period compared to the first due to slowing global economic growth, despite a successful first half of the year, according to a conference held by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers. Exports of seafood in the first five months of the year rose by around 42%, but they are expected to slow down for the second half of 2022. (Photo: VNA) Since the start of 2022, seafood businesses have been focusing on recovering their production, increasing exports and networking with partners after the COVID-stricken year of 2021. Exports of seafood in the first five months of the year reached 4.7 billion USD, a 42% increase year-on-year. During the conference held in HCM City on June 22, Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of the association, said that export prices grew by up to 15%, and markets grew around the world. The association has been focusing on helping … [Read more...] about Seafood exporters face challenging second half of 2022: conference