Vietnam local economies shift toward high-value agriculture and aquaculture

Local authorities and farmers in Vietnam are exploring new economic models to increase the value of regional resources and improve livelihoods. In Thanh Ky, local leaders met with businesses to discuss ways to transition from raw material extraction to high-value production, particularly in forestry and agriculture, to ensure more economic value remains within the community.

In Quang Tri province, specifically in Ben Hai commune, farmers are successfully transitioning from white-leg shrimp farming to cultivating specialty brown fish. Following challenges with disease and rising costs in shrimp farming, pilot models supported by technical assistance have shown promising results. Early estimates suggest that after an eight-month cycle, the specialty fish model could yield a net profit of approximately 450 million VND per hectare.