(HBO) – Meeting with pharmacist Do Van Nhuan, listening to his story and looking at how he works, we feel that that he is not only a passionate but also adventurous person when deciding to invest in raising sturgeon in river whirlpools downstream the Hoa Binh hydropower plant.
The sturgeon farm of
Do Van Nhuan’s family creates stable jobs for 10 labourers with an average
income of 6 million VND per person per month.
Most people raising fish in cages choose static water
areas with little wind outside the water flow. On the contrary, Do Van Nhuan
selected the whirlpools to place fish cages. Nhuan shared that "No one has
thought that sturgeon can be raised in Hoa Binh city, especially in the
downstream area of Hoa Binh hydropower plant in Da River. The province had
mapped out a plan to develop coldwater fish in Hien Luong, Dong Nghe, and Suoi
Nanh communes in Da Bac district. Before putting fish cages in the river in Tan
Hoa ward, Hoa Binh city (the old location of the Thia ferry station), I had thoroughly
studied various parameters from summer and winter temperatures to water flow
rates. In October 2015, I started investment as I discovered that in the
whirlpools the water is cleaner with more oxygen, thus making the fish move
around more, resulting in high-quality fish products.
"Following legal regulations to run investment
is the most important matter to ensure stable and long-term production and
business,” Nhuan said, adding that he had the fish cage locations, the origin
of fish fry and food, and environmental protection checked and approved by competent
agencies such as port authorities, waterway traffic inspectors, environmental
police, animal health and fisheries sub-departments. Therefore, all of his 80
fish cages, which had a total area of nearly one hectare of water surface, were
located in positions not blocking the passing of boats on the river. The feed
is checked to ensure it does not contain antibiotics and growth stimulants.
Waste discharged during the process of caring for fish is brought ashore. Dead
fish were collected to make fertilizer. Particularly, Nhuan uses his knowledge
in pharmaceuticals to grow medicinal plants to prevent diseases for fish. He
said "Hoa Binh has many kinds of plants which can be used to make antibiotics
for animals, including fish. By that way, the fish are clean and healthy, thus well-liked
by customers.”
Among the 80 fish cages of Nhuan’s family, except
for some raising Duong Nghiep tilapias, most house sturgeons with 800 fish per
cage. As sturgeon is popular on the market, the fish has become a new choice
for farmers engaging in fish cage raising in Da River. The production and trade
of sturgeons have helped generate jobs for 10 labourers with an average income
of 6 million VND per worker per month. His family’s first products were
introduced at the socio-economic achievement exhibition on the occasion of the
130th founding anniversary of the province, and 25th anniversary of the
provincial re-establishment. The fish were sold on the market (mainly
Hanoi) at the minimum
weight of
3 kilogramper sturgeon and average price of 250,000 VND per kilogram.
After more than four years of implementing a project launched by the Hoa Binh Party Committee’s Standing Board on developing agriculture and promoting product consumption linked with building new-style rural areas for the 2021-2025 period, the province’s industry and trade sector has made significant strides, greatly contributing to local socio-economic development.
Luong Son district has identified 2025 as the year for the accelerated breakthrough to successfully implement the socio-economic development plan for the 5-year period from 2021 to 2025. The district has been focusing on executing the plans and trying to achieve a GRDP growth rate of approximately 15%.
Since the beginning of this year, under the direction of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Sub-Department of Agricultural, Forestry, and Fishery Product Quality Management has strengthened the integration of the professional activities to promote and guide the organizations and individuals in the production and trading of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products to comply with the legal regulations regarding the use of chemicals, pesticides and veterinary medicines in crop cultivation, livestock farming and aquaculture. They also provide guidance to processing and manufacturing establishments on keeping the records to trace the product origins and using food additives from the approved list according to the regulations.
Hoa Binh province saw a significant rise in state budget revenue in the first two months of 2025, heard a meeting chaired by Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Quach Tat Liem.
Ha Thi Ha Chi, a 26-year-old graduate in law, has taken an unconventional path by returning to her hometown in Mai Chau district to establish the Tong Dau Cooperative, creating stable jobs for local women and bringing Thai ethnic brocade weaving to the global market.
As the Lunar New Year 2025 approached, pork prices surged, creating a profitable season for farmers in Tan Vinh commune, Luong Son district. Taking advantage of the rising demand, Can Minh Son, a farmer from Coi hamlet, sold over 30 pigs at 69,000 VND/kg, each weighing more than 100 kg. After deducting expenses, his family earned a profit of over 50 million VND.
