Nghe An: Farmers face difficulties due to reduced clam prices and slow consumption

People in Quynh Luu coastal area gather to harvest clams. Photo: VH

Quynh Luu district has about 140 hectares of commercial clam farming area along the coastal tidal flats. In recent years, clam farming has been considered a "key" product bringing high economic benefits to dozens of households in Quynh Tho, Son Hai, Quynh Thuan, Quynh Long... However, entering this year's harvest, clam prices have dropped compared to previous years but there are still not many traders coming to buy.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang's family in Quynh Thuan commune has 4 hectares of clam farming area in the tidal flats. At this time, about 2 hectares of clams are ready for harvest, the rest will be harvested at the end of the year. Mr. Hoang said: "Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, clam prices have decreased; before, when the consumption market was stable, my family harvested and sold 4-5 tons per day, but now traders have not placed orders, so we do not dare to harvest."

Due to the impact of the epidemic, farmed clams are purchased at lower prices than previous years. Photo: VH

Mr. Ho Van Tinh, a clam farmer in Son Hai commune, is also very worried about the complicated developments of the disease, whilerainy seasonThe upcoming season may affect the growth of clams. To find a market, he has invited people everywhere, but traders only buy in small quantities, about 3-4 quintals at most; hundreds of tons of overripe clams have to wait...

According to clam farmers in Quynh Luu district, clams with a size of less than 70 - 80 pieces/kg are sold for about 15,000 VND/kg every year, but now they are only sold for 12,000 VND/kg and purchasing power is also very slow.

In previous years at this time, restaurants were very active, especially tourist attractions with a large number of visitors returning to swim and enjoy seafood, so every dayQuynh Luu clam farmersold dozens of tons to the market; however, on this occasion, the consumption only reaches 2 - 3 tons per day at most. If this situation continues, many clam areas that are ready for harvest will have to be harvested by the end of the year, and most of the clams here are already too old.

In previous years, coastal residents exported dozens of tons of clams to the market every day, but this year due to the epidemic, clams are difficult to sell. Photo: VH

Not only does it affect the farmers, but hundreds of women who work as clam rakers in coastal areas also have less work, which means less income. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa in Quynh Long commune said: In the past, we were hired to go to the tidal flats to rake clams for hire, then paid based on the product, there were days when each worker earned from 120,000 - 150,000 VND/person, but now we only work for 2 hours and then rest, earning only 40,000 VND/session.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, many seafood processing factories in Thanh Hoa, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho... purchasing to process, vacuum-pack and then export to foreign countries such as Laos and Korea are now facing many difficulties. Therefore, more than ever, clam farmers in Quynh Luu hope that the epidemic will soon pass so that they can soon maintain production./.