The study sites are traditionally developed aquaculture areas in Cho Moi district, with the proximity to Tien River (My Hiep) and Hau river (Hoa Binh, Long Giang, Long Kien) and their branches (Kien An, Cho Moi) (see figure 3.1). These communes represent three common types of aquaculture that regularly cultivate fish in earthen ponds, floating houses, and cement/rubber tanks. Each type has different characteristics, so the farming practices and physical structure are also diverse.
Figure 3.1 The three aquaculture systems located in 6 commutes are shown on maps of the study sites (red circle)
The floating house system mainly cultivates a diversity of flowing freshwater fish in the river such as red tilapia, catfish, spotted fish, carp, etc. that has various growth times of fish cultivation. Its structure is commonly constructed not too big to anchor
Long Kien (11) Cho Moi (5)
My Hiep (8)
Long Giang (9)
Hoa Binh (15) Kien An (12)
Floating house system
Cement/rubber tank system Floating house
system
Earthen pond system Earthen pond system
45
on the river that has 02 components, the floating component serving for daily living and monitoring fish cultivation; and the submerged one (cage system) serving for fish farming and its average size: length: 8-12 meters, width: 4-8 meters, height: 2-4 meters, depth: 3-5 meters (see figure 3.2).
Floating house System
Earthen pond system
46
Figure 3.2 Popular aquaculture systems in Cho Moi district
The earthen pond system primarily raises breeding or commercial pangasius in static water to serve the international market, with its growth time around 9-12 months. A large pond is constructed after soil removing and protected by high banks. The average size of the pond has the length: 80-120 meters, the width: 40-80 meters, the depth: 2-4 meters. (see figure 3.2).
The cement/rubber tanks grow traditional fish like snakeheads to serve the domestic market, with its growth time around 6-9 months. A cement/rubber is constructed above the land surface. The average size of the pond has the length: 4-6 meters, the width: 6-10 meters, the depth: 0.5-1 meters (see figure 3.2).
The average age of aquaculture household heads interviewed was 48.37 years old, the highest was 73 years old, the lowest was 32 years old. According to types of aquaculture, the households raising fish in the floating house have the highest average age which is 53.15 whilst the households in the cement/rubber are lowest with the age of 45.45.
Cement/rubber tank system
47
Figure 3.3 Comparison of average members, labors and female labors between aquaculture types and Cho Moi district
The average number of members in aquaculture households was 4.35 people, including 2.75 laborers, of which was 1.48 female ones. These figures were slightly higher than the average numbers of Cho Moi district but were not significantly different among aquaculture systems (see figure 3.3).
The earthen pond owned households had the biggest farming area, with a total average area of 3,957 m2/household, while floating house and cement/rubber tank ones were 121.2 m2/household and 177.3 m2/household respectively. The yield of each type depends on how much space households possess and what kind of fish species are cultivated. The larger the area was, the higher the output produced.
Moreover, the farming practices were so diverse that the yield of each model was so different. Cement/rubber tank could produce average yield 1,942.5 kg/pond/crop, whilst the earthen pond was about 31,610 kg/pond/crop. The remaining model, the floating house, could reach 15,435 kg/pond/season (see table 3.1).
3.7
5.05
4.3 4.35
4
2.65 3
2.6 2.75
2.44
1.35 1.65 1.45 1.48
1.11
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Floating house Earthen pond Cement/ruber tank 3 types Cho moi Members labors female labors
48
Table 3.1 Average area and yield of aquaculture households at the study sites
Types
Average area per 1 pond (m2)
Total average area (m2)
Yield (kg/pond/season)
Flooding house 36.3 121.2 15,435
Earthen pond 3,957 3,957 31,610
Cement/rubber tank 27.6 177.3 1,942.5
The current income of households varies distinctively. In general, average household income and per capita of the whole three aquaculture systems were higher than the average of Cho Moi district in 2018. Households with floating houses had the highest average income with 254.24 million VND/year, followed by those raising fish in cement/rubber tank with 220.99 million VND/year, while those raising fish in earthen ponds were lowest with 165.58 million VND/year. The average income per capita in the mentioned above order was 68.71 VND/person/year, 51.39 VND/person/year and 32.79 million VND/person/year, respectively (see figure 3.4).
Figure 3.4 Comparison of average household income and income per capita between aquaculture systems and Cho Moi district
254.24
165.58
220.99 213.61
200.52
68.71
32.79 51.39 50.97 50.13
0.00 50.00 100.00 150.00 200.00 250.00 300.00
Flooding house Earthen pond Cement/ruber tank 3 types Cho moi
VND/year
household income income per capita
49