8.2 The Integrated Agriculture-Aquaculture System Used
by Black Thai Farmers in Yen Chau District
The integration of fishponds into the agriculture system is common among the
ethnic Black Thai, a group settled predominantly in the mountainous regions of Son
La province in north-western Vietnam.
Within the overall framework of the Uplands Program, Steinbronn (2009)
described the locally integrated agriculture-aquaculture system used in Yen Chau
district in Son La province, a system characterized by the polyculture of carp and
tilapia fish species, with the main species being grass carp. The ponds used are
integrated into the overall irrigation scheme as well as into the farming system,
within which crop residues, leaves and weeds, as well as manure from large
ruminants and pigs serve as feed and nutrient inputs.
Although the system has features usually associated with intensive systems, such
as being feed-based and involving frequent water exchange (Edwards et al. 1988),
Fig. 8.1 Aquaculture production in Vietnam – 1950–2009 (FAO 2011)
Table 8.1 Fish and seafood production and consumption in Vietnam – 1975–2005 (FAO 2012)
Year
Total
population
(million)
Fish and seafood (1,000 t)
Protein supply per capita
per day (g)
Production Import Export
Domestic
supply
Total
From
animals
From fish
and seafood
1975 48.0
546
3
3
545
44.3
7.2
3.3
1980 53.3
559
2
3
557
45.9
7.1
3.0
1985 59.8
808
0
32
776
47.3
9.0
3.2
1990 66.2
939
0
57
881
49.2
9.9
3.5
1995 73.0
1,465
29
131 1,363
55.2
12.3
4.4
2000 78.7
2,097
12
408 1,701
60.9
15.8
5.5
2005 84.1
3,367
547
1,070 2,844
71.1
22.0
7.4
FAO (2012) Food balance sheets
8 Improved Sustainable Aquaculture Systems for Small-Scale Farmers . . .
283
by Black Thai Farmers in Yen Chau District
The integration of fishponds into the agriculture system is common among the
ethnic Black Thai, a group settled predominantly in the mountainous regions of Son
La province in north-western Vietnam.
Within the overall framework of the Uplands Program, Steinbronn (2009)
described the locally integrated agriculture-aquaculture system used in Yen Chau
district in Son La province, a system characterized by the polyculture of carp and
tilapia fish species, with the main species being grass carp. The ponds used are
integrated into the overall irrigation scheme as well as into the farming system,
within which crop residues, leaves and weeds, as well as manure from large
ruminants and pigs serve as feed and nutrient inputs.
Although the system has features usually associated with intensive systems, such
as being feed-based and involving frequent water exchange (Edwards et al. 1988),
Fig. 8.1 Aquaculture production in Vietnam – 1950–2009 (FAO 2011)
Table 8.1 Fish and seafood production and consumption in Vietnam – 1975–2005 (FAO 2012)
Year
Total
population
(million)
Fish and seafood (1,000 t)
Protein supply per capita
per day (g)
Production Import Export
Domestic
supply
Total
From
animals
From fish
and seafood
1975 48.0
546
3
3
545
44.3
7.2
3.3
1980 53.3
559
2
3
557
45.9
7.1
3.0
1985 59.8
808
0
32
776
47.3
9.0
3.2
1990 66.2
939
0
57
881
49.2
9.9
3.5
1995 73.0
1,465
29
131 1,363
55.2
12.3
4.4
2000 78.7
2,097
12
408 1,701
60.9
15.8
5.5
2005 84.1
3,367
547
1,070 2,844
71.1
22.0
7.4
FAO (2012) Food balance sheets
8 Improved Sustainable Aquaculture Systems for Small-Scale Farmers . . .
283