Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang, a sturgeon farmer in Sin Suoi Ho, Lai Chau, shared that the wholesale price of sturgeon at his facility is around VND 120,000 per kg. In contrast, the price of Chinese sturgeon is currently only about VND 100,000 per kg. It takes about three years for sturgeon in his facility to reach a weight of approximately 3-4 kg, while Chinese sturgeon can achieve a higher weight and better appearance in just a few months.
Sturgeon farmers struggle with low prices
Mr. Nguyen Huu The, a sturgeon farmer in Ngu Chi Son, Lao Cai, revealed that the largest sturgeon in the area sell for around VND 130,000 per kg. At this price, farmers are not making any profit. It takes about 2.5-3 years for the fish to reach a marketable size, incurring significant costs. In previous years, sturgeon sold for VND 170,000-240,000, allowing farmers to make a decent profit.
In a conversation with the reporter from Tien Phong, Mr. Do Thanh Giang, Deputy Chief of the Department of Crop Production, Plant Protection, and Livestock, Veterinary, and Fisheries, under the Lao Cai Department of Agriculture and Environment, shared that since the beginning of the year, the department has received four permits from the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance allowing businesses to import 560 tons of sturgeon through official channels into Vietnam. The permits are valid until the end of 2026.
According to Mr. Giang, the authorization to import sturgeon has led to fierce market competition, significantly impacting sturgeon farmers in Lao Cai. Local farmers are not yet self-sufficient in breeding, feed supply, and advanced farming technology, resulting in high farming costs.
“We are planning to inspect some importing companies and production facilities to understand their challenges and advantages better. This will help us propose supportive policies for local farmers,” said Mr. Giang.
Mr. Giang also mentioned that the current production of cold-water fish (sturgeon and salmon) in Lao Cai is approximately 1,000 tons per year. The representative from the Department of Crop Production, Plant Protection, and Livestock, Veterinary, and Fisheries in Lao Cai suggested that relevant authorities need to regulate the quantity of imported sturgeon to ensure a healthy market. The department is also working on developing a sturgeon brand and organizing a supply chain to market for local farmers.
Mr. Vu Duy Hung, Chief of Lao Cai Customs, confirmed that there is no smuggling of sturgeon in the area. His team has not encountered any violations related to sturgeon imports. From July 19 to August 15, they cleared eight batches of imported sturgeon, totaling 78 tons.
Mr. Hung added that imported sturgeon is exempt from taxes.
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