Training Programme on Catfish BMPs and Cluster Management

This is the report of a training programme on better management practices (BMPs) for catfish aquaculture and cluster-based management, which was held at the Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Can Tho University, Vietnam, 7-8 June 2011.

The purpose of the training programme was to build capacity and awareness of selected cluster leaders, lead farmers and provincial extension officers on catfish BMPs, implementation of BMPs, group formation and operation. The training aimed to raise the awareness of cluster leaders and provincial extension officers on:

• The importance of BMPs and cluster management.
• General BMPs for catfish nursery and growout operations.
• Feed management.
• Water quality management.
• Group formation and operation.
• Setting up internal control system and its operation.

The workshop was attended by 34 participants, including 22 farmers and and 12 provincial technical officers drawn from four prominent catfish farming provinces, ie. An Giang, Don Thap, Vinh Long and Can Tho.The training programme was an activity of the ASEM Aquaculture Platform, funded by the European Commission's 7th Framework Programme.