(HBO) – Meeting with pharmacist Do Van Nhuan, listening to his story and looking at how he works, we feel that that he is not only a passionate but also adventurous person when deciding to invest in raising sturgeon in river whirlpools downstream the Hoa Binh hydropower plant.




The sturgeon farm of Do Van Nhuan’s family creates stable jobs for 10 labourers with an average income of 6 million VND per person per month.

Most people raising fish in cages choose static water areas with little wind outside the water flow. On the contrary, Do Van Nhuan selected the whirlpools to place fish cages. Nhuan shared that "No one has thought that sturgeon can be raised in Hoa Binh city, especially in the downstream area of Hoa Binh hydropower plant in Da River. The province had mapped out a plan to develop coldwater fish in Hien Luong, Dong Nghe, and Suoi Nanh communes in Da Bac district. Before putting fish cages in the river in Tan Hoa ward, Hoa Binh city (the old location of the Thia ferry station), I had thoroughly studied various parameters from summer and winter temperatures to water flow rates. In October 2015, I started investment as I discovered that in the whirlpools the water is cleaner with more oxygen, thus making the fish move around more, resulting in high-quality fish products.

"Following legal regulations to run investment is the most important matter to ensure stable and long-term production and business,” Nhuan said, adding that he had the fish cage locations, the origin of fish fry and food, and environmental protection checked and approved by competent agencies such as port authorities, waterway traffic inspectors, environmental police, animal health and fisheries sub-departments. Therefore, all of his 80 fish cages, which had a total area of nearly one hectare of water surface, were located in positions not blocking the passing of boats on the river. The feed is checked to ensure it does not contain antibiotics and growth stimulants. Waste discharged during the process of caring for fish is brought ashore. Dead fish were collected to make fertilizer. Particularly, Nhuan uses his knowledge in pharmaceuticals to grow medicinal plants to prevent diseases for fish. He said "Hoa Binh has many kinds of plants which can be used to make antibiotics for animals, including fish. By that way, the fish are clean and healthy, thus well-liked by customers.”

Among the 80 fish cages of Nhuan’s family, except for some raising Duong Nghiep tilapias, most house sturgeons with 800 fish per cage. As sturgeon is popular on the market, the fish has become a new choice for farmers engaging in fish cage raising in Da River. The production and trade of sturgeons have helped generate jobs for 10 labourers with an average income of 6 million VND per worker per month. His family’s first products were introduced at the socio-economic achievement exhibition on the occasion of the 130th founding anniversary of the province, and 25th anniversary of the provincial re-establishment. The fish were sold on the market (mainly Hanoi) at the minimum weight of 3 kilogramper sturgeon and average price of 250,000 VND per kilogram.


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