Economic characteristics of extensive shrimp farms in the Mekong delta |
| |
| Authors: | Donna Brennan Helena Clayton Tran Thanh BE |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) , PO Box 1571, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia Phone: 61 2 6217 0531 Fax: 61 2 6217 0531 E-mail: Brennan@ACIAR.GOV.AU;2. Faculty of Agriculture , University of Sydney , Australia;3. Mekong Delta Farming Systems Research and Development Institute , Can Tho University , Vietnam |
| |
| Abstract: | Abstract Extensive forms of shrimp aquaculture have become an important source of income for farm households in the brackish water region of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The economic and production characteristics of farms are discussed in this paper, based on a 1997 farm survey, with particular emphasis on shrimp farming practices. Two types of shrimp fanning practice were observed, one based on natural recruitment of seedstock with few supplementary inputs, and the other based on relatively high cash investments in Penaeus monodon seedstock and other inputs. Households practising monodon culture made significantly more income, but faced high risk associated with shrimp mortality. An investigation of the factors affecting monodon yields indicated that investment in higher quality inputs had a positive effect on yield and income. However, further research is needed on the extent to which management can reduce risk of shrimp mortality by investing in such premium quality inputs. |
| |
| Keywords: | production function shrimp pond management integrated farming systems |
|
|
