Crab farming - difficult output

(Baonghean) - Inefficient shrimp farming areas, Quynh Luu farmers have introduced commercial sea crabs to raise, bringing high economic efficiency.

The right choice

In the crab farming area of ​​Hoi Ma, An Hoa commune, many households are focusing on cleaning ponds to prepare for the next crab farming season. While directing workers to treat ponds, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Huong in Tan Thang village said: After many years of failed white-leg shrimp farming, the selection and introduction of sea crab breeds has shown high efficiency. In August 2015, the District Agricultural Extension Station selected Mr. Huong's household to pilot a commercial sea crab farming model. With an area of ​​4,000 m2 of ponds, he was supported 100% of the price of the breeds, after 4 months of farming and care, the average yield was 2 - 3 crabs/kg.

Crab farming model of Mr. Hoang Van Thang in An Hoa, Quynh Luu.

“Raising sea crabs is not difficult, the profit is not as high as shrimp farming but it is safe, has few diseases, and a survival rate of 60%. In the last crop, my family harvested about 1 ton of commercial crabs, after deducting expenses, the profit was 150 million VND/pond,” Mr. Huong said excitedly.

An Hoa commune has 10 hectares of shrimp farming that have been converted to commercial crab farming. Mr. Nguyen Anh Hung - Head of the District Agricultural Extension Station said: “Crabs are not only easy to raise but also well adapted to pond conditions, and can be raised in many different forms. In some farming areas where conditions and the ability to develop sustainable shrimp farming are difficult, commercial crab farming is a suitable choice. Economic efficiency has shown that this model is much more effective than other species such as sea bass, sea bass, grouper, seaweed, etc. In the coming time, the station will survey more ineffective shrimp farming areas to encourage people to switch to crab farming.”

Continue to remove difficulties

Sea crab farming is a new and effective direction for farmers in Quynh Luu but still faces many difficulties. According to many sea crab farmers, the biggest difficulty at present is the output of the product. Currently, the consumption of sea crab products only stops at selling small quantities of seafood, and cannot be sold on a large scale and exported like shrimp, so people only know how to harvest and sell at a moderate level.

Well-grown sea crabs can reach 3 crabs/kg.

Another difficulty is that most crab farmers learn science and technology themselves to apply to the farming process, but the authorities have not provided professional training. Therefore, economic efficiency will be somewhat limited, and the possibility of disease outbreaks is high.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu district said: Currently, there are about 15 hectares of crab farming area concentrated in the communes of Quynh Luong, Son Hai, An Hoa... Sea crab is the object that people raise to replace white-leg shrimp. In the coming time, we will consult with the district to support, build a sustainable crab farming model, transfer science and technology. Cooperate with the seed production facility in Quynh Luong commune to ensure branded, good quality crab seeds to help farmers develop the sea crab farming profession in a sustainable way.

Viet Hung