Eating Dew and Sleeping in the Wind | Inland Shrimp Farming Profession - Part 1: The Hidden Life
Many people in the Mekong Delta refer to inland shrimp farming as a life of "eating dew and sleeping in the wind." For many in the industry, shrimp represent the "head of their business," bringing both joy and sorrow, all stemming from the shrimp...
After two decades of impressive results in shrimp production contributed by the Mekong Delta to the domestic and export markets (according to data from the General Statistics Office, in 2019 alone, the country's shrimp production reached 899,840 tons, with 753,512 tons coming from the Mekong Delta, accounting for 83.7%), it is impossible not to mention the Mekong Delta farmers who live hidden in the rural areas of "two seasons of rain and sunshine," practicing inland shrimp farming (shrimp farming using the local canal and ditch system).
For 20 years, shrimp farmers in Vinh Loi District (Bac Lieu) and My Xuyen District (Soc Trang) have faced numerous hardships, primarily the life of "eating dew and sleeping in the wind."
The Soc Trang Fisheries Department states that My Xuyen District is one of the five key shrimp farming districts in Soc Trang. Behind the simple houses facing the Ca Lam Canal in Binh Hoa Hamlet, Gia Hoa 2 Commune (My Xuyen District), the "ecosystem" of farming remains in full swing: some are feeding the shrimp, others are leveling the land in preparation for the season, and some are checking if their huts can withstand the upcoming rainy season...
Day and Night in the Hut
At the river junction of Bac Lieu and Vam Leo Creek, there are countless winding canals and ditches. In this area, almost every house has a few acres of land, with farming as their primary livelihood. On usually deserted fields, one can occasionally see makeshift huts. No one knows exactly when these huts appeared, but their image is deeply embedded in the daily life of Southwest farmers.
It is said that during the time of growing only rice, whether in the scorching heat or sudden rain, farmers had to endure the harsh conditions in the "desolate fields." At that time, some came up with the idea of building huts for shelter. The huts were built quite simply, with roofs made from split water palm leaves that had been dried for about ten days.
Since shrimp became a major farming activity, people have increasingly built huts to store feed, medicine, and shrimp farming equipment. When someone brings leaves to the field or is busy collecting bamboo or pumpkin vines, people often exchange labor for help. Inside the hut, a small bed is usually set up for passersby or neighbors to rest. Often, the hut is not empty of "chit-chat" sessions, where people gather to play traditional music and sing. Many, especially those with shrimp ponds far from home, use the hut as their primary home day and night.
My maternal hometown is in Gia Hoa 2 Commune (My Xuyen District). When I was young, before the advent of smartphones and electric lights, I occasionally followed adults to "visit the field" in the evening. Every hut I passed had a dim oil lamp; the hut keeper would swat mosquitoes with one hand and search for radio channels with the other, while the sounds of frogs croaking filled the air. In the dark distance, one could still see other lights flickering, indicating that others were also checking their shrimp.
On the 6th day of Tet (Lunar New Year) in the Year of the Ox, after several hours checking the size of shrimp in this pond and covering mud to prevent water from overflowing into the pond being renovated on the other side, Mr. Le Van Luc (31 years old, from Gia Hoa 2 Commune) also took a break. His calloused hands wiped his sunburned cheeks, and he set out a few cakes on a small bench in the hut. Mr. Luc has about 5 acres of land for raising white-leg shrimp and was thrilled because he had a good harvest and paid off his debts. He said his home is about a kilometer away but only returns to bathe and eat. Most of his time is spent staying at the hut.
The wind flows gently through the windows of the hut. Inside, Mr. Luc set up a small gas stove, a few bowls, pots, and some instant noodles to prepare for late-night hunger. "Not to mention the hardships of the wind and dew," Mr. Luc said, "just being alone in the field is a big deal... Many young shrimp farmers don't dare to stay in the hut because they fear loneliness and being startled, as any incident would go unnoticed; some are easily frightened and refuse to return after having a frightening experience with... ghosts."
"But staying in the hut is to care for the shrimp, store medicine, and prevent malicious outsiders from poisoning our shrimp pond," he shared.
Accidents in the Field
Mr. Luc also sadly recalled an incident three years ago when his brother accidentally drowned in a shrimp pond. He recounted that someone heard splashing sounds in the water but thought it was a fish, so they ignored it. About 15 minutes later, when checking the shrimp, they discovered that his brother had already passed away.
A shrimp farmer in Hoang Quan 2 Hamlet, Hung Thanh Commune (Vinh Loi District) shook his head and said that it is common for shrimp farmers to experience wind-blown accidents while feeding or checking the shrimp at night, as "for the past 20 years, some shrimp farmers have sacrificed their lives." In this area, there have been reports of people getting dizzy or having low blood pressure, falling into ponds and drowning, or being electrocuted.
Mr. P.M.M (a shrimp farmer in Hung Thanh Commune) said that over the decades, many people have been electrocuted by leaking electric motors (used to run fans that provide oxygen in the shrimp ponds). Some were fortunate to be rescued by the community; others were not so lucky and died.
Mr. M. also mentioned that shrimp farming presents a significant challenge with the electrical system. Previously, most households used diesel engines to run the fans in the shrimp ponds. Later, local authorities set up many electrical lines, so people gradually switched to using electricity from their homes.
The Hung Thanh Commune People's Committee said that electrical accidents in the field are rare but occur primarily due to carelessness. For example, many households use wooden poles to connect electricity to the ponds instead of using concrete posts; they do not regularly check or maintain the wiring and power sources. Each year, the electricity company and the commune's People's Committee go to each hamlet to educate and disseminate electrical safety knowledge to the residents.
Besides concerns about electrical leakage, people are also warned to be cautious with oxygen fans, as there have been many cases of accidents where clothing got caught in the rotating shafts, resulting in serious injuries. (To be continued...)
Covid-19 Reduced Shrimp Prices
In 2020, the total shrimp production of Bac Lieu and Soc Trang provinces accounted for a significant share of the national shrimp production (with Bac Lieu at 187,998 tons and Soc Trang at 187,939 tons). The Soc Trang Fisheries Department reported that the province's industrial shrimp production rate is currently the highest in the country, even though the farming area is smaller compared to Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.
The Bac Lieu Fisheries Department also mentioned that the Covid-19 pandemic significantly affected the shrimp farming sector, causing raw shrimp prices to decrease by 15 - 20% compared to the same period. In the Mekong Delta, the price of white-leg shrimp dropped sharply, reaching the lowest point in the past two years; for example, the price for 100 shrimp/kg ranged from 68,000 - 70,000 VND/kg.
In Hung Thanh Commune, shrimp farmers noted that shrimp prices fluctuated during the Covid-19 pandemic but were not heavily impacted. Specifically, during Tet 2021, the price for live shrimp was 120,000 VND/kg, while the price for dead shrimp ranged from 110,000 - 113,000 VND/kg. Shrimp that tested negative for antibiotics (for export purposes) received an additional 6,000 VND/kg.
Posted on Thanh Nien Newspaper on February 26, 2021. Read here.
Nhận xét
Đăng nhận xét