Pangasius Output to Drop by 50 per cent in Mekong Delta Region in 2009
Pangasius output is forecast to drop by 40 per cent-50 per cent in Mekong Delta region of Vietnam next year and local farmers as well as processors will face with numerous difficulties, the Saigon Liberation reported, citing regional seafood processors and exporters.
In 2008, the region expected to reap US$1.4 billion from exporting pangasius, up from US$1 billion last year.
But the global crisis resulting in sharp decrease in seafood consumption has pushed Vietnamese exporters into difficulty and discouraged local farmers to continue rearing fish.
Currently, around 20 per cent-30 per cent of pangasius breeding households in the region have suffered bankruptcy; some 30 per cent-40 per cent of the households have faced losses while 40 per cent-50 per cent have stopped breeding.
Pangasius area is also decreasing to 4,583 hectares, from nearly 6,000 hectares early this year.
The country had set target to produce one million tons of pangasius in 2008, up from 800,000 tons in 2007. (Saigon Liberation)
Vietnamese
