Raising crabs brings 10 times higher income than growing rice

(Baonghean.vn) - On an area of ​​4 sao of ineffective rice land, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuoc's family (Block 6, Hung Nguyen town) invested money and built a dike system to raise field crabs. Crab output reached 1.5 quintals/sao, the price of commercial crabs was high; income was many times higher than that of rice farming.

On the low-lying rice fields where rice cultivation was ineffective, Mr. Phuoc researched and learned about the model of raising field crabs that brought high economic efficiency. Mr. Phuoc traveled to many places to visit and learn how to raise field crabs. After accumulating a "capital" of knowledge and techniques, in early 2015, he boldly invested nearly 50 million VND to convert the rice fields into commercial field crab farming.

However, at first, most of the crabs died after being released. Learning from experience, for the next batch of crabs, he treated the pond before releasing the crabs. The crabs' food source was rice bran he made use of from the rice his family produced and small, finely ground trash fish.

Mr. Phuoc converted 4 sao of ineffective rice to raise winter crabs for high income.

Mr. Phuoc also creatively built banks of eel for crabs to make nests, and at the same time released water hyacinth into the pond, creating a food source and a hiding place to avoid the sun for the crabs. With good care, the crabs grew very quickly, and were ready for harvest in just 2 months; they were gradually trimmed and sold. Up to now, each crab crop, his family sells about 600 kg of commercial crabs; the selling price ranges from 80,000 to 90,000 VND/kg; net income reaches 20 million VND.

Sharing his experience of raising field crabs in earthen ponds, Mr. Phuoc said: Field crabs are easy to raise, rarely get sick, reproduce and develop very quickly. Each female crab can give birth to hundreds of small crabs, thanks to which field crabs achieve high yields. Previously, the family's 4 sao of rice only yielded 1-1.5 quintals/sao, earning about 5 million/crop, but now, raising field crabs has increased income tenfold. In the near future, I will experiment with raising crabs in rice fields.

Field crabs are processed into delicious, nutritious dishes in the summer, loved by customers.

Raising field crabs is both cost-effective and allows for multiple harvests per crop. Field crabs are a popular product in the market, and traders come to your home to buy them as they are harvested. This is an effective economic development direction for farmers in low-lying areas with ineffective rice production.

Ms. Ba Thi Dung - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture of Hung Nguyen district said: In the coming time, the Department of Agriculture will advise the district to support funding for the crab farming model of Mr. Nguyen Van Phuoc's household and at the same time expand it in the district; contributing to the development of the local economy.

Thanh Tam