Farmers raising hill chickens earn more than 200 million each year

(Baonghean.vn) - While the price of live pigs is falling, causing many farming households to suffer, for those households that choose the hill chicken farming model in Nam Dan area, it still brings high income, with traders coming to their homes to buy.

Ms. Ngo Thi Sam - Hamlet 4, Nam Thai Nam Dan commune happily said: She has just sold 300 kg of chicken, at the price of 110 thousand VND/kg, compared to the price of live pigs at this time, the price of chicken is nearly 5 times higher. In 2010, Ms. Sam started to "get involved" in the profession of raising hill chickens, after visiting and learning some experiences from other farms. From the place of testing a few hundred chickens to both raise and gain experience, now the family raises 2-3 crops every year, with the quantity of 1,500 - 2,000 chickens, selling price 100 - 110 thousand VND/kg, net profit of 200 million from raising hill chickens.

Ms. Sam added: “Taking advantage of the large hill garden, I chose the hill chicken farming model. Because the chickens are raised in a free-range style, the meat is firm and delicious, so traders often come to buy them at home or import them to restaurants in the area. The price of live pigs has dropped, but the price of chickens remains the same, even higher than before, because it is the holiday season.”

Taking advantage of the garden area, many households have invested in raising large numbers. Photo: Hong Suong

Currently in Nam Dan area, there are over 300 households applying the model of raising large numbers of hill chickens, each batch raising from 150,000 to 200,000 chickens, most of them are in semi-mountainous communes such as: Nam Hung, Nam Thai, Nam Nghia, Nam Thanh, Nam Anh.

Normally, chickens can be sold on the market after about 3.5 to 4 months. If taken care of properly, chickens can reach a weight of more than 2kg/chicken, with a selling price of about 100,000 VND/kg, the breeder will make a profit. During peak times such as holidays and Tet, the price increases to more than 120,000 - 130,000 VND/kg.

However, due to being raised naturally, hill chickens are susceptible to diseases, especially diseases brought from the outside environment or from migratory birds. Therefore, ensuring hygiene and disease prevention must be given top priority.

Chickens are imported by locals and sold to famous hill chicken restaurants in Nam Dan area. Photo: Hong Suong

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thiep - specialist of Nam Dan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said:“Raising hill chickens in Nam Dan has provided people with a relatively large source of income, helping many households escape poverty, because they can take advantage of large grazing areas. However, because of the free-range farming method, people need to follow the vaccination schedule for chickens similar to other forms of farming. On days with unfavorable weather, people need to lock up chickens because diseases can easily arise. Regarding the barns and farming equipment, people need to clean and disinfect them regularly and periodically. For sick chickens, isolation for destruction or treatment must be carried out immediately.”

It can be affirmed that raising hill chickens in Nam Dan is a livestock farming direction that brings high economic efficiency. However, to promote and exploit it effectively, it is necessary for all levels and sectors to participate in determining sustainable development goals, propaganda, and connecting markets so that people can feel secure in livestock production.

Hong Suong

(Nam Dan Radio)