Cage fish specialties in Anh Son are ready to serve Tet

We followed the Lam River bank through Thach Son commune, stopping by the fish cages of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lieu's family. While swaying on the row of cages on the riverbank to feed the fish, Mrs. Lieu shared: She and her husband have been involved in the fish cage farming business on the river for 15 years now.

Currently, Ms. Lieu and her husband are raising 2 cages of fish to prepare for sale this Tet holiday, mainly raising grass carp, with each cage holding 200 fish, with an average weight of over 5 kg.

According to Ms. Lieu, people here mainly raise grass carp because this type of fish is easy to raise and has high value. Fish raised with natural food, clean water source so the meat is firm, delicious, moreover, the bigger the weight, the more delicious, so it is favored by customers. Fish sold during Tet holiday costs an average of 120,000 VND/kg, after deducting the cost of each cage, her family earns nearly 40 million VND in profit.

In recent years, cage fish farming has been increasingly invested in by households along the Lam River in Anh Son District. Photo: Thai Hien

These days, along theLam River bankBen Than cave section, residential group 1, Anh Son town is always crowded with people coming to order fish specialties in cages for Tet. Mr. Tran Van Huy, who has nearly 10 years of experience raising fish in cages on the river, said: His family raises 1 fish cage, mainly grass carp, if releasing fish weighing from 0.2-0.3 kg/fish, after only 1 year, they will reach 5 kg/fish or more. His family's fish cage has a large area so it can raise from 200-500 fish.

To have fish for Tet, in mid-January or early February of the lunar calendar, the family starts releasing fish. During this time, the weather in spring is warm, the river water is clear and cool, rich in oxygen; suitable for fish species to grow. To ensure the quality of the fish, Mr. Huy's family has taken advantage of the land along the riverbank, the home garden to grow grass and bananas to feed the fish, so many customers in and outside the district come to buy right at the cage.

In particular, Tet is always a time of high consumption demand, so this is the most important farming season of the year. Mr. Huy calculated that this Tet season he will sell at least 500 kg of fish to the market, at a price of 120,000 - 130,000 VND/kg, after deducting expenses, his family will earn more than 50 million VND.

The cage fish farming model brings high economic efficiency to Mr. Tran Van Huy's family. Photo: Thai Hien

Ms. Cao Thi Nguyen - President of the Farmers' Association of Anh Son town said: Realizingcage fishingis a promising profession, the Farmers' Association of Anh Son town mobilized people to raise fish in cages along the Lam River in the area to establish a cooperative group. Up to now, the group has 12 households participating, each household raises 1 cage of fish with the number ranging from 200 - 500 fish. When participating in the group, each family will be supported with 2.5 million VND to build the cage.

All households raising fish in cages in the group take advantage of the riverbank, home gardens growing grass and bananas to feed the fish, so the quality of the fish is very guaranteed. In 2020, the fish output of households in the cooperative group sold 3-4 tons of fish to the market, bringing a significant income to the families. Currently, the households have prepared fish sources to serve the Tet market.

The cage fish farming model is being focused on by Anh Son district to be expanded in the coming time. Photo: Thai Hien

Mr. Nguyen Dang Khoa - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Anh Son district said: In Anh Son district, households not only raise fish on Lam River but also on dam lakes such as the plastic cage fish farming model in Duc Son; the large-scale cage fish farming model with 17 cages in Lang Son commune; the model in Thach Son, Tao Son, Tam Son communes. Since then, it has contributed to increasing aquatic product output in 2020 to 1,695 tons, reaching 103% of the yearly plan, up 8.8% over the same period.

Currently, in addition to focusing on training in aquaculture knowledge, helping farmers make the most of available local strengths, developing aquaculture in a sustainable and effective direction, Anh Son district also promotes, encourages, and supports people with funding to build cages according to the zoning mechanism.

Accordingly, zone 1 will be supported with 2 million VND, zone 2 with 4 million VND, zone 3 with 6 million VND per cage. Currently, caged fish in localities are available to serve Tet, and have been pre-ordered by customers from Hanoi to Vinh city and outside the district. With an easy consumption market, this is a model that brings high economic efficiency to people. In the coming time, the District Farmers' Association will expand it to localities with the advantage of being located next to the Lam River.