Sustainable Development of Peri-urban Agriculture

in South-East Asia Project
(Kingdom of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam RS)

Fishers net more profits using SUSPER nylon cages

Families in Southeast Asia are seeking more fish in their diets, but supplies from the sea and rivers are declining. In response, the SUSPER Project successfully introduced low-cost nylon net floating cages to fishers in the Saigon and Dong Nai Rivers near HCMC. Nylon cages cost about 400 USD, only one-third the cost of a comparable wooden cage. Fishers using SUSPER nylon cages reported they produced more fish and better quality fish than they would have produced using similar-sized wooden cages. The inexpensiveness of the nylon cages allowed them to expand their operations threefold and significantly raise their profits. With assistance from HCMC researchers, pilot sites have been established near Phnom Penh in the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac Rivers. SUSPER looks forward to working with fishing communities throughout Southeast Asia to extend this technology in a sustainable manner.

Fresher fish in Ho Chi Minh City

With its impressive coastline and inland waters, fish production has always been an important industry in Vietnam. Consumer demand is increasing for fresh fish, but marketing channels from the sea to the market are slow and inefficient. In response, the University of Agriculture in Forestry in HCMC conducted a survey to provide information that will be used by policymakers to improve these channels.

The survey found that 83% of freshwater fish production for HCMC comes from the Mekong Delta and only 6% comes from peri-urban areas. The major fishes coming from the Mekong Delta include snakehead fish and pangasius, much of it coming from An Giang province. In peri-urban areas, giant gourami, red tilapia, and tilapia are the major fishes, much of it coming from Binh Chanh. About 83% of fish coming from the Mekong Delta is cultured and available year-round. Fish from the periurban areas is also mainly cultured, but seasonal.

As for marine fish, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province provides about one-third of the fish to HCMC as it is nearby and has good transportation infrastructure. The second largest supplier is Kien Giang province, which has a long coastline and productive off-shore capture fisheries. Anchovy and hemibagus fish are the most common marine fish caught and sold.

In spite of the weak marketing channels, the quality of fish sold in the market is outstanding. Over half (54%) is classified as first class and is sold in urban markets to high income households. Approximately 43% is of second class quality. Only 3% is third class, which is generally sold to the peri-urban poor.

Others 

• Early success leads to promotion of grafted tomato technology in northern Vietnam

• Farmers reap profits from tomato growing

• Excellent grafted tomato seedlings available at Hanoi Seeds Compan

• The frog business is hopping

• Regional workshop on vegetable MICS (Market Information and Consultation System)

• A perfect match

• Promoting safe vegetables in Vietnam

• Agriculture in Hanoi—A Model for Success

• SUSPER calls for safer poultry production practices

• Laotians want more local vegetables at market

• Technical Workshop and The 3rd Steering Committee meeting in Vientiane

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