Raising eels earns 200 million VND/year

(Baonghean.vn) - Yen Thanh has an abundant source of natural eels. Realizing that people catch eels that are still small and unusable and need to be raised, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Minh in Dong Thi hamlet, Do Thanh commune has invested in raising eels in cement tanks, earning a profit of 200 million VND per year.

Mr. Minh's eel pond is built of cement and tiled to ensure that the water is always clean when drained. The ponds are equipped with a scientific water supply and drainage system.

Small eels are purchased for farming.

In 2015, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Minh, Dong Thi hamlet, Do Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district invested over 150 million VND to plan and build a domesticated eel farming model on a garden area of ​​about 500 m2, including 22 cement tanks, each tank is about 4 square meters wide, a water supply system, a wastewater pond...

Mr. Minh said: The reason for building this model in the area is because for agricultural areas like Yen Thanh, the source of freshwater eels is abundant, cheap, taking advantage of available food sources, a large labor force, and the demand for eels in the market is increasing, so it is very favorable for breeding.

Eel farming system of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Minh.

Bamboo trays are placed on the cement tank for the eels to cling to.

In the first year, Mr. Minh bought nearly 800 kg of eels from people in and outside the district to raise commercially. On average, each tank holds 50 kg of eels, and he regularly raises 8-10 tanks. The remaining tanks are for backup and to be used when the eels grow to the necessary stage.

Thanks to strict adherence to technical procedures, the loss rate is only 20-30%. Mr. Minh also sells eel fry according to orders from households in Thanh Hoa, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, and Phu Tho.

Mr. Minh calculated: Raising eels like this, if selling eel seeds, will be very profitable, on average 1 kg has about 140 eels, selling price is about 300 thousand VND/kg. Commercial eels have about 50 eels per kg, according to market price 120 - 130 thousand VND/kg, peak price can be up to 150 thousand VND/kg.

Currently, his family raises more than 350 kg of eels. With a farming period of 6-8 months, he can earn about more than 4 tons of commercial eels, earning a profit of about 200 million VND.

Along with raising eels, Mr. Minh also dug a pond to raise catfish, making use of water and excess food from the eel tanks. With such a farming process, food will be used thoroughly to bring about investment efficiency.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Luong - Agricultural officer of Do Thanh commune said: In the orientation of local economic development, the Party Committee and People's Committee of the commune focus on the field of agricultural development and consider Mr. Nguyen Thanh Minh's eel farming model as a model that needs to be promoted.

This model takes advantage of the main food source for eels, which is trash fish, which is available all year round and is cheap. The output of eels is quite stable. People in Do Thanh commune and some neighboring areas can apply and replicate the model to increase family income, contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality.

​Mr. Tuan