Unveiling the pandemic’s ripples: a study of COVID-19’s effects on catfish and shrimp farmers and export enterprises in Vietnam

In light of Vietnam’s significant role as a top ten seafood exporter, particularly in shrimp and catfish, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the nation’s crucial seafood production and exports since early 2020. Our investigation, which is based on farmer surveys and enterprise interviews, has revealed a significant increase in production costs, especially in intensive shrimp farming, which has had a greater impact on compared to semi-intensive farming. Approximately 51.6% of farmers reported a strong effect on feed expenses, with 39.6% categorizing it as a very strong effect. This represents a significant impact on input costs, primarily due to challenges in sourcing materials, particularly feed, which constitutes the highest proportion of production costs. Challenges in goods exchange along the supply chain were strongly reported by 75% of enterprises, with 25% describing them as very strong, thus affecting production costs and inventory. Labor costs have also increased due to COVID-19, with 25% reporting a strong influence and 75% indicating a stable impact. The pandemic has affected commercial pangasius prices, with 29.7% of respondents noting a decrease and 41.8% confirming increased raw material costs, especially for fish feed. Feed costs account for 85.6%, while seed costs comprise 5.1% of total expenditure. Supply chain disruptions have led to enterprises having to suspend operations or reduce operating capacity to 30–40% due to a shortage of workers. The paper suggested practical management and technical solutions, emphasizing the need for supportive policies and a government-led mechanism to assist workers. This study offers valuable insights into the industry’s resilience and adaptive mechanisms to face post-pandemic challenges.