Vietnam to share know-how on breeding pangasius

Vietnam is ready to part with know-how for breeding the pangasius fish (also called basa) which officials say is a major breakthrough.

The consumption of pangasius, primarily found in Vietnam and some adjoining countries, has been going up by leaps and bounds in India but its captive rearing in the country had not really taken off. Vietnam has closely held the breeding techniques and has now agreed to part with it for a breeding centre near Chennai.

Officials say this fish is raised in cages in free flowing water, something that the Vietnamese have mastered in ponds in the Mekong River Delta region. Cambodia, Laos and China have also cashed in on the increasing demand for pangasius whose imports into India have nearly gone up by close to 50 per cent in recent months.

Vietnam has already emerged as the second largest supplier of fish after Bangladesh.

Though pangasius is available from a variety of sources, the Indian palette has taken to the Vietnamese variety.