Exports of aquatic products in the second quarter could increase by 8 percent at the highest, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

The association said the increase could be achieved if shipments of seafood such as sea fish, tuna and octopus post strong growth and those of Tra fish are kept stable.  

Aquatic product exports in the first quarter of this year showed a slowdown with an increase of only 1 percent to 1.8 billion USD, due to the downward trend in shrimp export that has persisted since last year. Shrimp shipments in the January-March period dropped by 17 percent amidst falling prices, high stockpiles in overseas markets and fierce competition in the world market.

Tra fish exports also posted a lower growth in the first quarter this year, at 8 percent, compared to 37 percent in the previous quarter. However, exports of several kinds of seafood rose strongly, such as tuna (19 percent), squid and octopus (12 percent) and other fish (22 percent).

On terms of markets for Vietnamese seafood, the US dropped to the third place after Japan and the US due to reductions in its import of shrimp and Tra fish. High anti-dumping tariffs and competition pressure will continue to affect Vietnam’s export of shrim and Tra fish to this market in the months ahead.

However, VASEP hopes that the upcoming two seafood fairs in the US and Europe will help import demands in those two markets pick up.VOV.VN - A number of localities have incorporated high-tech agriculture into school training programs, as a new and practical approach and long-term investment.

Students of Lam Dong Ethnic Boarding School practise farm work

At the center of Da Lat City, there is a high-tech garden for vegetables and flowers, where every day students of the Lam Dong Ethnic Boarding School practice what they have learned about crop plants and farming.

Located at the Lam Dong Ethnic Boarding School and covering an area of more than 500 m2, the glasshouse garden are equipped with  fertilizer irrigation and an automatic watering system. Another plot of land near the flower garden is equipped with a hydroponic system for safe vegetable cultivation.

The garden is where teachers and students to practice  farming like real farmers and their earnings from farming will be donated to the school’s Study Encouragement Fund.

Teacher Nong Van Hung, Secretary of the school’s Youth Union, said teachers instruct students  while the students  take responsibility for the 6,400 USD garden ranging from seeding to fertilizer preparation, the watering timer, and fertilization.

After a season of cultivating flowers and  vegetables, the students’ knowledge on farming has  improved greatly. Most of them know how to read the level of humidity to determine which diseases the plants are susceptible to, and take measures against the pests.

Hung underscored the importance of teaching the  students to love farming and apply high-tech techniques, noting the benefits of these practices for the ethnic minority people in the future.

“We will use part of the money earned from selling vegetables and flowers to finance the Youth Union’s activities. The school’s Study Encouragement Fund will help buy materials, learning aids, and gifts for disadvantaged pupils in remote areas,” said Hung.

12th grader Da Gat Phuong said thanks to  caring for the garden, she has gained more knowledge on how to grow vegetables and flowers in a modern way. She is now able to adjust the amount of water and fertilizer suitable for each development stage of the crops.

“Thanks to the program, we have learned techniques to soften the soil, and how to use various types of fertilizers and understand the steps to best develop vegetables. We can also apply the techniques we learn at school to help our parents,” Phuong said.

Since the onset of the program, the students have become very familiar with all phases of cultivating vegetables or flowers.

Ya Duyet, a student of class 12A, said apart from the knowledge provided by teachers, he himself often searches for more information from books and the Internet to find the best way to look after the garden.

According to Duyet, “Since the model was launched, we are more hard-working and less distracted, while our team work skills have improved. We have worked more harmoniously and efficiently.”

Pham Thi Hong, the school’s principal, said the money from the harvested vegetables and flowers is used for  school programs and contributes to the Study Encouragement Fund.