HCM CITY — Viet Nam has signed a contract to ship 30,000 tonnes of tra fish to Russia, the Management Board for Catfish Export to Russia said.

The delivery has to be made through this year.

The board also signed an agreement for co-operation with the Russia Seafood Association in seafood processing and export to that country, and to export around $300 million worth of seafood next year.

The agreements to export large volumes of tra will enable embattled Vietnamese farmers to find outlets for their produce.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has recommended that the Government put in place a support policy for the fisheries sector.

Accordingly, those farmers who have yet to begin harvest will be entitled to borrow 60 per cent of their breeding expenses at 0.65 per cent interest per month, and processors who farm their own fish, 40 per cent at 0.9 per cent.

Processors who buy from farmers can get 100 per cent of the value of their purchase contracts. — VNS