Nghe An: Raising brackish water crabs brings in billions of dong.

(Baonghean.vn) - After experimenting with various aquatic species raised in brackish water environments, Mr. Phan Van Trung (Quyet Thang hamlet, Dien Bich commune, Dien Chau district) has successfully developed a crab farming model. On an area of ​​3 hectares, his family raises approximately 30,000 crabs, yielding 0.8 tons per hectare and earning over 1 billion VND per harvest.

As the first person in Dien Bich commune to engage in the business of purchasing crab larvae, after attending a training course on aquaculture organized by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Trung decided to try raising brackish water crabs. According to Mr. Trung, from 1989 to the present, on his family's 3-hectare pond, he has raised many types of seafood, but brackish water crabs have yielded the highest economic efficiency and the least risk.

Mr. Phan Van Trung's family raises crabs in a 3-hectare pond; crabs are easy to raise, and the yield reaches 8 quintals per hectare.

The crab farming season usually starts in September and is harvested in April or May. The juvenile crabs are purchased from local households at a price of 5,000 VND per crab; 1 kg of juvenile crabs (approximately 25 crabs) costs 250,000 VND. This year, Mr. Trung's family raised 30,000 juvenile crabs on a 3-hectare area, with an investment of 150 million VND. The juvenile crabs selected are healthy and highly vigorous.

Each healthy, disease-free, first-grade crab can weigh between 300 and 500 grams at harvest. The average yield is 800 kg/hectare. Commercial brackish water crabs fetch high prices, ranging from 300,000 VND/kg to 400,000 VND/kg depending on the type. Overall, this year's crab season brought his family a net profit of over 1 billion VND.

Sharing his experience in raising crabs, Mr. Trung said: "Raising shrimp and fish requires staying up all night to watch over them, feeding them on time, and checking their health to prevent and treat diseases, but crabs are easy to raise and live long-term. Crabs don't need as much constant care as other seafood. Their main food source is small fish in the pond; occasionally, you can change their diet with bran or corn. If you're too busy to feed them, they can still survive on the food available in the pond. Especially when the water is polluted or lacks oxygen, crabs can climb ashore, whereas shrimp and fish find it difficult to survive."

The harvesting tool is a net about 10 meters long, rolled around a rectangular iron frame. After putting food inside the net, it is submerged in the pond, and the crabs will crawl inside.

However, the most harmful factor to the growth and development of crabs is dirty water and a polluted environment. Therefore, Mr. Trung changes the water once a month, and after each crab season, he hires people to renovate the pond for 20 days to prepare for the next season. In addition, as the crabs grow, the pond becomes crowded, so the area must be expanded to prevent the crabs from biting each other and dying.

Due to its high economic efficiency, Mr. Trung's brackish water crab farming model is being replicated throughout the commune. Mr. Thai Ba Bay, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Dien Bich commune, said: Currently, four households in the commune have adopted and implemented the crab farming model, but on a smaller scale. The commune also encourages people to expand this farming model to diversify the types of seafood supplied to the market, in addition to the supply from fishing boats returning from offshore.

Healthy crabs can weigh between 300 and 500 grams, are firm, and have solid meat.

Over the years, the brackish water crab farming model in the coastal communes of Dien Bich, Dien Van, and Dien Ngoc in Dien Chau district has proven effective, with an average yield of 0.6 tons/ha, bringing in over 250 million VND per year. Crabs are a species that is less susceptible to disease and can be farmed in two seasons per year. With proper care, crabs can be harvested after only 4 months.

Brackish water crabs, raised in a clean and safe environment, are highly sought after in the market, ensuring stable demand. Most crabs are sold to traders, with a small number sold by families at local markets. Brackish water crab farming is a sustainable approach that contributes to increased income and stable livelihoods for coastal residents. Therefore, Dien Chau district is continuing to direct coastal residents to expand the farming area from 15 hectares to 20 hectares over two seasons: summer-autumn and winter-spring.

Quang An