Nghe An: Grasshoppers and locusts are in high demand, people count each one to get money

Viet Hung• June 18, 2020 10:20

(Baonghean.vn) - Because it is not the season, at this time, grasshoppers and locusts (also known as "flying shrimp") are hunted and sold by Nghe An people at very high prices, even counting each one to get money.

Quynh Trang Commune (Hoang Mai Town) is known as a village with many people who go hunting for locusts. During their free time, they carry their tools and go everywhere to hunt. Although it is not the season for locusts to grow, there are still dozens of families in the commune who leisurely go to many rural areas to hunt for this type of insect.

Để săn bắt châu chấu, người dùng vợt chao, người dân dùng lưới vây bắt. Ảnh: Việt Hùng
People use rackets and nets to catch locusts. Photo: Viet Hung

Mr. Nguyen Van Thuong in Hamlet 7, Quynh Trang Commune (Hoang Mai Town) said that this season, locusts are very rare, so the hunting output is not as high as during the rice-growing season, the rice ripens and after harvest; however, the selling price is many times higher than during the season. Moreover, at this time, after being hunted, locusts are packaged and counted individually to get money, not weighed like before.

“This is a side job but it brings in a high income, so every day my wife and I ride our motorbikes to all the districts to catch locusts. During peak months, we earn 10-15 million VND,” said Mr. Thuong.

Nông dân xã Quỳnh Trang (TX. Hoàng Mai) đi chao châu chấu. Ảnh: Việt Hùng
Farmers in Quynh Trang commune go hunting for locusts. Photo: Viet Hung

According to households in Quynh Trang commune (Hoang Mai town) who hunt locusts, the season for hunting "flying shrimp" is from July to September, then they sell them to traders for 80,000 - 100,000 VND/kg. However, currently in the farmers' fields, the rice has only been planted for about half a month, so it has not attracted locusts to fly back, making it very difficult to hunt.

Therefore, people can only catch 3-5 kg ​​of locusts at most; currently, each kg of locusts is purchased by traders at 150,000 - 180,000 VND. With this price, locust catchers can earn from 500,000 - 700,000 VND/day.

Mr. Ho Van Hung, a locust hunter, said: “The big ones will be sold at that price, but the small ones, which are still on the wing, will be priced even higher. When we hunt, we will select the small ones to put in bags, 20 per bag; each bag is sold for 2,000 VND. On lucky days, we can make about 200 - 300 bags, earning an income of 400,000 - 600,000 VND.”

Sau 1 buổi đi chao, gia đình ông Nguyễn Văn Thương ở xã Quỳnh Trang săn được 5 kg châu chấu. Ảnh: Việt Hùng
After a day of hunting, Mr. Nguyen Van Thuong's family in Quynh Trang commune caught 5 kg of locusts. Photo: Viet Hung

It is known that in Hoang Mai and Quynh Luu towns, there are about 100 households specializing in hunting locusts, mainly concentrated in Quynh Trang and Quynh Thanh communes. In addition, in the two districts, there are many households specializing in purchasing locusts. During the main season, these establishments purchase from 500 kg to 1 ton of "flying shrimp", then refrigerate and preserve them in foam boxes to transport to the northern provinces such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Vinh Phuc and some central provinces for consumption. According to traders in the North, flying shrimp are being sought by traders at 250,000 VND/kg (3 times higher than during the season) but there is still no supply.

Người dân gom châu chấu rồi mang đến nhập cho thương lái. Tôm bay được ướp lạnh để vận chuyển đi tiêu thụ. Ảnh: Việt Hùng.
Flying shrimp are chilled by traders for transportation to consumption. Photo: Viet Hung

During the hot season, the specialty “flying shrimp” becomes more popular, especially in provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Hung Yen, Hai Duong... when it is considered a favorite dish for connoisseurs. “Flying shrimp” can be processed into many dishes, but the most popular is still fried with hot and crispy lemongrass and chili. In addition to being used as a specialty dish, “flying shrimp” is also used as food for ornamental birds.

Viet Hung