Giant Freshwater Prawn Farming Model Delivers High Profit, Offers New Direction for Vietnam’s Aquaculture

VIET NAM
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 04:00 (GMT + 9)

Successful Trial in Quang Tri Province Shows High Adaptability, Shorter Farming Time, and Significant Income Increase for Local Farmers

A six-month pilot project by the Quang Tri Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has confirmed the strong commercial viability of raising giant freshwater prawns ( Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in ponds. The model, implemented in the province, demonstrated the prawn's high adaptability to local conditions, strong disease resistance, and a significantly shorter farming cycle compared to traditional freshwater species, opening a lucrative new avenue for local aquaculture.

Quảng Trị is a coastal province near the southernmost part of the North Central Coast region, the Central of Vietnam-->

High Returns Outweigh Initial Investment

The model was deployed in An Binh village, Hieu Giang commune, on a 0.2-hectare pond, stocked with 40,000 prawns at a density of 20 prawns/m$^2$. The project used specialized industrial feed with a protein content of over 39%. The Provincial Agricultural Extension Center provided crucial support, covering 50% of the cost for shrimp post-larvae, feed, and probiotics, valued at over 76 million VND (approximately 2,889US).

The farming household, led by Mr. Ho Van Tho, previously raised traditional species like grass carp, silver carp, common carp, and tilapia, but experienced low economic efficiency and high risks from disease and weather fluctuations.

After just 6 months of farming, the harvest yielded about 1.32 tons of prawns, with an average size of 20 shrimp/kg and a robust survival rate of over 66%.

• Average Selling Price: Approximately 250,000 VND/kg (about $9.50US$/kg).

• Total Investment: Nearly 250 million VND (approximately 9,500US) for the 0.2 ha crop.

• Estimated Profit: Over 80 million VND (approximately 3,042US) after deducting expenses, translating to an estimated profit of 400 million VND/ha (approximately $15,210US$/ha) per crop—a very high return compared to traditional freshwater farming.

Mr. Phan Van Phuong, Deputy Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, acknowledged the high initial investment but affirmed that the profits justify the expense. Mr. Tho added that the giant freshwater prawn's inherent hardiness and shorter 6-month farming time (compared to the 10-12 months required for traditional fish) make it a much more economically efficient choice.

Officials from the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center inspect the giant freshwater prawn farming model in the pond - Photo: LA/baoquangtri.vn

Adaptability and Replication Potential

The project conclusively proved that the giant freshwater prawn adapts exceptionally well to Quang Tri's local climate, weather, and soil conditions, even thriving through periods of continuous seasonal changes that negatively affected other agricultural production.

To ensure successful replication across Quang Tri, technical staff have identified key factors:

1. Pond Preparation and Water Quality: Success hinges on clean water and proper hygiene. Farmers must carefully measure and maintain environmental factors like pH and alkalinity daily.

2. Broodstock Selection: Currently, juvenile prawns must be imported from other provinces. Farmers must ensure they select reputable suppliers to guarantee high-quality, uniform, and brightly colored post-larvae.

3. Survival Rate Management: Due to the prawn's cannibalistic nature, particularly during molting, farmers must create artificial habitats. Mr. Tho recommends installing a substrate of tree branches and coconut leaves in clusters within the pond for the prawns to hide, boosting the survival rate.

4. Feed and Health Management: Periodic water changes (30% to 40% from the second month) combined with probiotics help clean the water. Adding digestive enzymes, vitamins, and minerals to the feed directly increases the prawn's resistance.

Photo: Stockfile/FIS

Mr. Phuong confirmed that the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center is now moving to deploy training courses and information campaigns to widely replicate the giant freshwater prawn farming model throughout Quang Tri. This initiative is expected to significantly contribute to diversifying freshwater aquaculture species, stabilizing livelihoods, and increasing income for local communities.

Global Perspective on Giant Freshwater Prawns

Globally, the giant freshwater prawn is prized for its large size and delicate flavor, making it a valuable commodity. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, while aquaculture production is dominated by marine shrimp, freshwater prawns, particularly M. rosenbergii, are gaining importance in many developing countries, offering a more sustainable and less disease-prone alternative to some marine species. Asia, including Vietnam, remains the primary global producer, with its farming success closely tied to effective technical training and the adoption of modern management practices like those demonstrated in Quang Tri.

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