Commercial crab farming

(Baonghean) -The results after 3 years of implementing the model of “Commercial crab farming” have opened a new direction for seafood farmers. Accordingly, coastal people have the opportunity to apply scientific and technical advances in production, create commodity products, increase economic value, and convert ineffective shrimp farming areas, or areas with frequent epidemics, to crab farming.

In 3 years (2011-2013) with financial support from the provincial budget, Nghe An Agricultural Extension Center successfully implemented the model of "Commercial sea crab farming" on an area of ​​2.5 hectares. In the form of intensive farming, within 5 months in the districts of Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Vinh City, households that are considered to have experience in aquaculture, financial potential, enthusiasm, dedication in work, daring to invest, were selected to participate in the project of commercial sea crab farming...

Commercial crab farming model in Hung Hoa commune (Vinh city)

During the initial implementation of the model, the weather was erratic, water sources mainly depended on nature, prices of food, materials and veterinary medicines increased, crab farmers encountered many difficulties, the growth and development of crabs were also more or less affected. By being proactive in forecasting, predicting the situation, building production plans, farming households promptly handled technical issues, increasing investment rates. In particular, all households strictly followed the technical process of crab farming according to instructions. From pond renovation, care and management, to disease prevention measures for crabs. The end of the first farming season was considered a success with a good survival rate (60 - 65%), crab size reaching 3 - 4 crabs/kg, and yield reaching 1.5 - 1.9 tons/ha.

Typically, in 2012, Mr. Vo Van Mai's household, hamlet 3, Nghi Xa commune, (Nghi Loc), with an area of ​​0.5 ha, raised 5,000 crabs, the average size of the crabs was 40/kg, the crabs' main food was trash fish. After 5 months of raising, the survival rate reached 60%, the average crab size was 0.3 kg/crab, giving a commercial crab yield of 900 kg, the selling price at the pond was 320,000 VND/kg, he earned 288 million VND. Excluding expenses such as: 5,000 crabs, the average price was 8,000 VND/crab, it was 40 million VND; trash fish for crab feed 4,000 kg, the average price was 6,000 VND/kg, it was nearly 24 million VND; other expenses were about 6 million VND. His family earned a net profit of 218 million VND.

To achieve high efficiency, crab farmers said: First of all, ponds must be renovated according to technical procedures, the quality of the seed must be guaranteed, the size of the crab seed released initially must be ≥2cm/crab, the most suitable stocking density is 1 crab/m2. The crab's daily food is mainly trash fish, and the food must be completely fresh. The pond environment must be clean, do not let excess food pollute the pond environment, regularly clean the pond bottom to remove rotten leftover food, change the water according to the tide to ensure a clean pond environment and stimulate the crab to catch prey, molt, help the crab grow and develop quickly.

Currently, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has organized a summary, evaluation of the results and discussed measures to replicate the model. From the results of the experimental farming models, through research, analysis, evaluation, and forecasting of the development potential of crab breeds, as well as practical conditions in localities, experts and farmers all highly agree: The coastal communes of Nghe An are fully capable of developing a commercial crab farming model. This model not only brings high economic value but also has social significance, contributing to environmental protection, providing quality and safe products for consumers, bringing good, easy-to-raise, disease-free crab breeds to the people. In addition, commercial sea crab farming is the basis for farmers to transform the structure of farmed breeds, as well as farming methods, contributing to increasing income, improving family economy, creating jobs, developing diverse breeds, creating new products to serve the increasingly high market demand.

A special thing to note when implementing this model is to emphasize biosafety in farming. Therefore, technical staff need to focus on training farmers participating in commercial crab farming to master knowledge, know how to apply new scientific and technical advances in production, limit diseases, and achieve high economic efficiency.

Vu Xuan Nam (Vinh City KN Station)