Rice and shrimp farming in the Xuan Thuy National Park: sustainable and unsustainable practices

Agricultural and aquaculture patterns in Xuan Thuy National Park mainly consists of rice planting and shrimp aquaculture (intensive and semi-intensive). Currently, there are about 11,899 rice households covering 1,873.07 ha, 215 semi-intensive shrimp households occupying 1,730.7 ha and 40 intensive households amounting to 90 ha in the Ramsar site. The local farmers produce 14,411 ton of rice, 450 ton of intensive shrimp and 516 tonof semi-intensive shrimp. Thus, rice and shrimp contribute significantly to local food basket and economy but it is overshadowed by environmental concerns. This paper aims to focus on reviews how farmers practice rice and shrimp at the international important location. It finds some inappropriate management practices regarding to monoculture, use of fertilizer, pesticide, antibiotic and other drugs, and water effluent systems. In addition, almost of respondents aware of water discharge from rice areas after spraying pesticide is the most serious constraint for their shrimp and the effluent from shrimp ponds make pollution for the environment. Lesson learned from review are considered in the context of recommendations to apply effective management measures to mitigate the unsustainable practices.