Suoi Hoa commune in Tan Lac district, located next to the Hoa Binh lake bed, boasts favourable conditions to branch out the caged-fish farming model, helping build local caged-fish brand, better residents’ income, and improve local livelihoods.
Bui Thi Thoa, a resident in Suoi Hoa commune, Tan Lac district, has studied and applied advanced technology into her caged-fish farming model.
Stable market in the end of 2023 help secured farmers in Ngoi hamlet a bumper fish crop. Bui Thi Thoa, a local resident who bred various kinds of fish in 30 cages, said her fish was sold at higher prices than in the previous crop.
Last year, Thoa gained some 150 million VND (nearly 6,200 USD) from selling 5-6 tonnes of fish. She said she has spent all of the profit on purchasing fries and investing in a cage system, and attended training classes on technical transfer to prevent diseases, adding the move aims at developing the caged-fish model. Besides, her family has worked with hotels and restaurants to ensure stable market for the fish.
Suoi Hoa commune is now home to nearly three hectares of aquaculture areas with more than 600 fish cages. Currently, local farmers are focusing resources to develop their cage system, while popularising their products on social networks such as Facebook and Zalo to access more consumers. Total aquaculture production in the commune in 2023 was estimated at 55 tonnes.
With a view to supporting and developing the aquaculture sector, local authorities have urged farmers to capitalise on the commune’s potential and advantages to branch out caged fish farming. Along with joining hands with relevant authorities to organise training courses, they have created favourable conditions for local people to get access to consessional loans from the district’s bank for social policies.
However, challenges remain on the horizon for the commune to develop brand for its caged fish, including small-scale production, poor linkage among households engaged in the caged farming model, traditional farming habits, among others.
According to Vice Chairman of the communal People’s Committee Dinh Van Buong, the caged fish farming has shown efficiency, making contributions to sustainable poverty reduction.
However, to turn caged fish farming into an economic spearhead, authorities at all levels should pay further attention to creating favourable conditions for farmers to stabilise production.
They should bring farmers into cooperatives to strengthen linkage and develop value chain for their fish, he said, adding it is necessary to improve product quality, enhance popularisation work, and expand markets for the products.
Maximizing local potential and advantages, Yen Tri commune in Yen Thuy district is actively promoting the cultivation of medicinal herbs and turning medicinal herbs into One Commune - One Product (OCOP) products.
Situated at the gateway to the Northwest, Hoa Binh province has a population of over 900,000, including about 540,000 of working age. It is home to 6,000 businesses and production facilities, providing employment for over 100,000 workers. The remaining workforce is engaged in informal jobs, works in enterprises outside the province, or contributes to agro-forestry-fisheries. Additionally, around 3,000 workers are employed abroad.
The Hoa Binh provincial People's Committee has issued Decision No. 2767/QD-UBND announcing the rankings of departments, agencies, districts and Hoa Binh city in the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR) and the Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS) in 2024.
The cultivation of Dam Xanh fish (Bangana lemassoni), a unique fish species, has seen remarkable growth in Mai Chau district, thanks to its high economic value and effectiveness. Initially concentrated in Van Mai commune, farming has now extended to four other communes, namely Mai Hich, Mai Ha, Chieng Chau, and Son Thuy. These areas benefit from pristine underground water flowing from mountain crevices, providing ideal conditions for raising this specialty fish.
In 2024, the total state budget revenue of Hoa Binh Province is estimated at approximately VND 6,930 billion, achieving 183% of the Government’s target, 126% of the target assigned by the Provincial People's Council, and 145% compared to the same period last year.
In 2024, Hoa Binh province has shown signs of improvement in attracting investment and developing enterprises.
