Nghe An: Raising grass carp and common carp by feeding them only with broad beans earns hundreds of millions
(Baonghean.vn) - In early May 2019, with the support of Nghe An Agricultural Extension Center, Thai Hoa Town Agricultural Extension Station deployed a model of raising grass carp and crispy carp in cages at Mr. Vo Xuan Huong's household in Hamlet 16, Nghia Thuan Commune and achieved high efficiency.
In previous years, Mr. Vo Xuan Huong's family raised traditional fish. Thanks to good care, they harvested every year, with good productivity. However, traditional fish sold on the market did not bring in high income. Since receiving support from the town's agricultural extension service, he has completely switched to raising grass carp and common carp in cages in a large lake, the 3/2 dam in Nghia Thuan commune.
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| Mr. Vo Xuan Huong in hamlet 16, Nghia Thuan commune raises carp and grass carp at Nghia Thuan 3/2 dam (Thai Hoa town). Photo: Minh Thai |
Mr. Huong invested 30 million VND to make 2 fish cages with an area of 100m2.3; each cage holds 5 - 7 tons of fish. The cages are fixed by concrete blocks 3 - 4 meters deep under the dam. When participating in the model, he is supported with 50% of the fish breed and 50% of the food, 1/3 of the cage cost, after harvesting his family will receive 100% of the fish sale proceeds.
Fish are raised in cages on the dam lake, the main food source is broad beans and natural food, so the fish grow quickly. After nearly 5 months of raising 400 grass carp and crispy carp, the survival rate of fish reached 95%, the average weight of crispy carp reached 2.5 - 3 kg/fish, crispy carp reached 3.7 - 4.2 kg/fish, the estimated yield reached over 10 tons. With the selling price ranging from 140 - 160 thousand kg, after deducting the cost of buying fish fry, food, biological products, care... the family has a net profit of over 70 million VND/crop.
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| The main food of carp and grass carp is broad beans. Photo: Minh Thai |
To achieve such high efficiency, Mr. Huong said: To raise carp and grass carp effectively requires carefulness and meticulousness of the farmer from the stage of preparing ponds, selecting breeds until selling. In particular, the breeds must be of uniform size, healthy, and have a clear origin. The initial stocking of grass carp must be over 1kg/fish, carp over 0.5kg/fish, the most suitable stocking density is 5-7 fish/m3water.
To make the fish meat firm, Mr. Huong only uses one type of food, which is broad beans. This is the type of food that makes the fish meat sweet and crispy. Along with a high nutritional diet, Mr. Huong maintains the water flow in the dam with an aerator to create conditions for the fish to swim, digest food and make the meat crispy faster.
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| Carp raised in a large pond can weigh more than 4 kg. Photo: Minh Thai |
The model of raising grass carp and common carp in cages shows that the fish is easy to raise, has a short raising time, and has a fast capital turnover suitable for local conditions. This is a new farming species that can replace traditional long-standing fish farming areas with low economic efficiency.
The success of the model has brought people a clean product, ensuring food hygiene and safety, with high nutritional content, supplying the market of Thai Hoa town and other localities in the province, bringing high economic efficiency to farmers.
In the coming time, Thai Hoa Town Agricultural Extension Station will continue to replicate the model in the area, especially in communes and wards with advantages of large lakes and ponds, contributing to job creation and increasing income for farmers.
