Page 26 - Agricultural innovation

This device can kill up to 99.6% of bacteria and 100% of algae in water. In addition, it is possible
to completely remove suspended organic matter and heavy metals such as iron, manganese or
sodium. Moreover, the cost of water treatment is also significantly reduced compared to the chemical
method, only 1,200 VND/m compared to 1,500–1,800 VND/m without causing environmental
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pollution. In particular, the survival rate of shrimp was significantly improved. If in conventional
water treatment method the survival rate of shrimp is only 40%, this new method can raise this
number to 70%.
With this advantage, the company’s equipment is applied in many shrimp ponds in the provinces
of Quang Nam, Dong Thap, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau or Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh City.
When talking about the effectiveness of this method, Mr. Le Viet Binh, Ly Hoa Hiep hamlet, Ly
Nhon commune, Can Gio district confided: “I have used the water purifier technology of Huetronics
company from 2020 up to now and this year, 2022, I buy another machine to treat shrimp pond water.
In the past, when using chemicals to treat shrimp pond water compared to now, using electrochemical-
ultrasonic technology for superior efficiency and reducing costs by 50 to 60%, safe for workers and not
being affected to the environment, helping me to have a higher income”. He also said that with an area
of 24 hectares, since the application of Huetronics’ electrochemical-ultrasonic technology process to
the water environment treatment for ponds, he has never failed in any shrimp crop.
In addition to applying ultrasonic electrochemical water treatment technology, the company’s
shrimp farm with an area of 12 hectares in Dien Huong commune, Phong Dien district, Thua Thien
Hue province also combines with other solutions including:
• Use microbial products such as EM;
• Use herbs instead of antibiotics with nanotechnology products, such as nano silver, nano
curcumin, nano red algae or nano berberin with good quality and low price.

This farm also combines egg-laying hens with Japanese technology and makes use of waste products
from shrimp farming, such as shrimp carcasses to create a brand organic chicken egg Hikari with
much higher price compared to regular one.

3.6.3. Opportunities and challenges
The application of the achievements of biophysical science in water treatment for aquaculture, especially
shrimp farming, is a great opportunity for solving the major problems in shrimp farming related to
water pollution in producing regions. The ultrasonic electrochemical model of shrimp farming water
has reduced the waiting time between shrimp crops and increased farming time for farmers.
This water treatment equipment is quite suitable for the scale of shrimp farming of today’s farmers
and especially the cost is not large compared to switching to super-intensive hi-tech farming. Therefore,
it is applied in many local shrimp ponds.
Due to the fairly thorough treatment of harmful bacteria along with the application of probiotics
and herbs instead of antibiotics, the shrimp industry has become more sustainable with ecological and
organic products that respond well requirements of consumers and import markets of Vietnam.
However, this is a new technology that requires knowledge of management and supervision, so
people are not encouraged enough to invest. It requires time to convince shrimp farmers to change
their minds about investing in an equipment costing several hundred million (320 million VND),
switching to a new, more environmentally friendly solution even though the cost of water treatment has
not been reduced much (1,200 VND/liter) compared to the chemical method (1,500–1,800 VND/liter).
However, for the long term, this economic benefit is not small and does not harm the environment of
the farming area, reducing diseases and improving shrimp quality.

Agricultural Innovation Review in CLV Countries 19