Vietnam's Ca Mau province to be developed into crab farming hub

The People's Committee of Ca Mau province in southern Vietnam recently issued a development plan for the crab sector, with the goal of turning Ca Mau into the largest crab farming centre in the Mekong Delta and nationwide.

This initiative is part of a strategy to boost gross regional domestic product growth to 8.5 per cent in 2025 and lay the foundation for double-digit growth in the 2026–2030 period, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The main objective of the plan is to organise production based on modern models and apply technology to improve productivity, product quality, and competitiveness.

In 2025, the Ca Mau Provincial Government will provide training and technical transfer to about 5,000 farming households, including 1,000 semi-intensive crab farmers who will integrate improved extensive shrimp farming with supplementary feeding.

Nearly 100 per cent crab farming cooperatives will be guided to implement farming procedures based on market-relevant standards.

The plan also includes the development of 62 hectares of standardised crab farming models, such as: 10 hectares of sustainable development models linked with consumption partnerships, 40 hectares of food safety-certified raw material zones, and 12 hectares of field school models applying probiotics in crab–tiger shrimp integrated farming.

The province aims to achieve a total annual crab output of approximately 41,834 tons, with about 418,340 hectares of integrated farming areas.

Semi-intensive crab farming will cover 200 hectares with an output of 100 tons, and box crab farming will include 3,000 boxes with an estimated output of seven tons per year.

VASEP expects that at least 12 new cooperatives will be established, each crab farming cooperatives over 100 hectares. Additionally, 12 value chains will be formed, along with partnerships with two major supermarket systems to expand market access.