The model, thriving along the Sê San River and An Khê-Kanak hydropower reservoir, is revitalising local economies while promoting environmentally friendly agriculture.
In Ia O commune, rows of fish cages glisten along the Sê San River, where farmers raise red tilapia, catfish, and bronze featherback. By utilising clean, nutrient-rich waters, residents have achieved stable year-round incomes and reduced dependence on upland farming.
Local farmer Đàm Văn Sáng, one of the pioneers, owns 20 cages of red tilapia and catfish. “Cage fish farming is more efficient and less labour-intensive. After eight months, each cage yields 800 kilograms to one ton of fish. If the selling price is 55,000 VND (about USD 2.20) per kilogram or higher, there’s definitely a profit,” Sáng said.
Others are shifting to higher-value species. Nguyễn Thị Oanh, who moved from Cà Mau to Ia O in 2016, now raises bronze featherback, which sells for about 100,000 VND (around USD 4) per kilogram. “It’s easy to raise, rarely gets sick, and brings a stable income,” Oanh shared.
According to Phan Đình Thắm, Chairman of the Ia O Commune People’s Committee, over 100 freshwater cages now operate along the Sê San River. Traders buy fish directly from farmers, ensuring stable incomes. The commune aims to expand cage farming while developing eco-tourism along the river, potentially making it a hallmark of Gia Lai’s western waterways.
The region’s clean water and stable flow produce high-quality fish meat that meets food safety standards. Some households have already linked up with local restaurants and supermarkets, enhancing the “clean aquatic products” reputation of western Gia Lai.
At the An Khê-Kanak hydropower reservoir in Cửu An commune, cage fish farming is also thriving. Covering 3.4 square kilometres, the site hosts 17 rafts with 245 cages, producing about 800 tons of red tilapia annually. The fish are disease-resistant, fast-growing, and highly marketable.
Farmer Nguyễn Đình Quyền said: “The reservoir water is very clean, fish grow fast, and if prices stay around 50,000 VND (about USD 2) per kilogram, each raft earns several hundred million dong a year.” Local authorities support farmers through training and water monitoring, while traders purchase fish directly at the cages to reduce costs.
Similarly, Nguyễn Văn Long shared that each harvest supplies Pleiku and nearby provinces, encouraging more investment in durable composite cages that reduce pollution.
Dương Phú Thọ, Deputy Head of the Cửu An Economic Office, noted that the model has generated stable incomes and optimised the use of natural water resources. The commune plans to trial new high-value species such as crisp grass carp and monosex tilapia and to develop the “Cửu An cage fish” brand.
Beyond economic gains, many farmers are adopting aeration and automatic feeding technologies, cutting labour and improving productivity while minimising water pollution.
From the Sê San River to the An Khê-Kanak reservoir, cage fish farming is reshaping Gia Lai’s agricultural landscape. Supported by local authorities, capital, and technology, this green initiative links livelihoods with environmental stewardship, setting a foundation for sustainable rural development in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.