Aquaculture

Our group visited the Tien Giang Province by riverboat to meet with local aquaculture producers. Aquaculture refers to the cultivation and production of aquatic organisms such as fish and plants. We toured island facilities where a majority of Vietnamese fish are produced. Much of the Vietnamese diet is devoted to seafood. (We even got to taste some of those at lunch!) 

Aquaculture is a growing Asian industry but a major threat includes biosecurity. Fish are raised in water cages that are open to the river. Natural disasters have the potential to destroy cage barriers and let loose fish. It can also be challenging to conform with both water and health regulations. 

There is pond aquaculture production but the producers we visited feel river production yields better results. The son of the farmer we visited is studying aquaculture at a Vietnamese university. He hopes to continue his father's business and work to expand aquaculture. 

Many local fisherman and aquaculture producers live in their house boats right beside their fish.

Passing under an impressive bridge on our water tour!

 

Any day on the water is a beautiful day!

Traditional Rice Farming

Vietnam has a rich agriculture sector and is the world's second largest rice exporter. Experts anticipate the country will soon be the number one global rice producer by ousting its competitor, Thailand. Rice production contributes to the country's overall $103.574 billion GDP (in U.S. dollars.) 

Vietnam covers 127,881 square miles and is slightly larger than New Mexico. It has high summer rainfalls that create the ideal rice producing conditions. Vietnam's rice production can be accredited to its historical roots. It has been produced for centuries and still uses many hand farming practices. Rice has become an ingrained aspect of the country's heritage and is a part of its history and future. 

A common practice is to bury deceased in rice fields to ensure a good harvest. This field held several family graves that the crops grew around. 

Typical rice fields are sectioned off and can be seen from an arial plane view. 

Feed Mill

Southeast Asia is a region with an emerging livestock industry. Predominantly, poultry is the most widely produced meat. There is a limited pork market due to Muslim Halal dietary restrictions. The growing beef industry and overall rise meat consumption has caused an increase in livestock feed production. 

I toured the Proconco Feed Mill which utilizes recycled resources to produce for local Vietnamese markets. The feed is catered to livestock and aquaculture industries and typically contains around 12 ingredients, Many of the ingredients are byproducts of other industries such as corn and peanuts. I was impressed with the resourcefulness of the feed mill and the owners dedication to creating nutritious feeds. Proconco Feed Mill dominates a majority of the Vietnamese feed market and I believe it has the potential to expand throughout the Asian region. 

A sample of feed ingredients. 

That is one large pile of feed! 

The final product packaged and ready to ship to Vietnamese producers. 

Market Place

Haggling for the best bargains and searching through stalls for the perfect product is all a part of the Vietnamese market experience! I found myself bartering for souvenirs and snacks during my time at the market. Our hosts advised us on accurate prices and many of the vendors accepted U.S. dollars. The experience was new to me as most prices are fixed in the U.S. However, they are usually marked up by 70 percent overseas. Haggling plays a large role in the lives of the Vietnamese and is an integrated aspect of many cultures, including India. We visited markets centered around both locals and tourists. 

A majority of Vietnamese food is sold at local wet markets, where buyers come early to purchase fresh food daily. There are supermarkets that are slowly gaining popularity. I had the chance to tour both a traditional market and a modern grocery store. Popular products included sea food, poultry, rice and fruit. Imported products such as American cereals were typically more expensive. The markets proved that Vietnam's reputation for fresh, healthy food was true! 

The fresh fruit in Vietnam is delicious! No visit is complete without sampling dragon or star fruit! 

Fresh meat was sold in open markets, which is not something you typically see in the U.S. 

More seafood products!

In the Asian marketplace our guide pointed out American soybeans. Just goes to show how far American agriculture extends! 

Reporting for FFA

I-CAL, International Collegiate Agriculture Program, is coordinated by the National FFA Association and U.S. Grains Foundation. The destination to Southeast Asia is filled with agriculture tours of companies, business and production facilities. I-CAL team members blog each night for FFA. Check out the FFA webpage to read articles by all 12 of this year's team members! 

Team members were selected from universities across the country. Missouri, Iowa, Virginia, California, South Carolina, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas were represented. In addition, the group traveled with local hosts and representatives from U.S. Grains Foundation and FFA. Already there have been many close bonds made during the experience! 

My blogging partner, Margery Magill and I took detailed notes over our tours for the day! 

A Taste of Vietnamese Culture!

Trying coconut juice at a local restaurant. 

Dinner time! Rice and chicken are popular meals along with seafood and fresh fruits and vegetables. 

More fresh coconut juice! 

A delicious rice dessert. It was deep fried and shared by our entire table. 

Foreign Agriculture Services

The first stop on my tour of Vietnam was a meeting with the FAS, Foreign Agriculture Services. Ching Bailey has served with the organization for 25 years and spoke to our group regarding the Vietnamese agriculture market. Representatives like Bailey serve as liaisons between American agriculturists and those over seas. They work with all aspects of agriculture including market development and trade policy. The work is specific to developing markets like Vietnam where goals include food security and market stability. 

Ching Bailey spoke to our I CAL group at the Sheraton Hotel. She discussed the current market trends, challenges and promise that Vietnamese agriculture has.