Nghe An farmers raise clams in separate seasons, harvesting year-round without worrying about price pressure.
(Baonghean.vn) - These days, people in the tidal flats are both focusing on harvesting clams and renovating their plots and fields for the new farming season. Although the weather is getting cold and the tourist season is off, the clam consumption market is quite stable...
From early morning, when the tide gradually recedes, people in Rong hamlet (Nghi Thiet commune, Nghi Loc) start harvesting clams in the tidal flats. Although it is not the main season, the atmosphere on the clam flats is quite bustling.
Ms. Le Phuong, a clam farmer in Nghi Thiet, said: “On the area of more than 4 hectares of clam farming, I divided it into many overlapping farming areas. Seeding is done every few months. Therefore, clams are harvested all year round, with the peak season being from May to August.”
At the beginning of the year, there was a lot of unseasonal rain, along with long periods of frost, which caused the clams to die. After that, people had to spend time to fix the problem and invest in re-raising costs.
During the clam growing period, the weather is quite favorable. This year, there are not as many storms as in previous years, so the clams still have stable productivity. Although it is not the peak tourist season or the hot season, the current price of clams at the beach fluctuates from 12,000 to 15,000 VND/kg, which is quite easy to consume, so people are very excited.
Currently, Nghi Thiet commune has nearly 17 hectares of tidal flats with 9 households raising clams. Small households have 1 hectare, large households have up to 4-5 hectares. Raising clams does not require investment in feed but the risks are also very high. There are years when clams die en masse due to disease, causing hundreds of millions of dong in damage.
This year, clams have a good yield, about 6.5-7 tons per hectare, the selling price is stable so people have a good income, net profit of about 50-60 million VND/ha after 18 months of stocking.
Considered the province's largest "clam barn", Quynh Luu district currently has about 160 hectares of commercial clams, concentrated in the communes of Quynh Tho, Quynh Thuan, Son Hai, and Quynh Long.
Two years ago, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, there were times when clam farmers could not sell their harvests, causing many difficulties. This year, although clam prices have not recovered and are not as high as in the years before the Covid-19 pandemic, clams are easier to sell and prices are quite stable.
"During the peak season (May-August), every day, people here harvest tons of commercial clams to sell to traders. Clams with a size of 70-80 pieces/kg cost 20,000 VND, 2,000 VND higher than last year. As soon as the clams are harvested, traders buy them all. During the winter months, people harvest sporadically. Generally, the price of clams at this time is not high but they are easy to sell. Currently, people are focusing on renovating the farming area to continue releasing clam seeds," said Mr. Ho Van Hai, a clam farmer in Son Hai.
Not only are clam farmers excited when clams have a good harvest and good prices, but those who work as clam rakers and beach cleaners also have extra income. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai, a clam raker in Quynh Thuan, said: "Wages are calculated based on the product, ranging from 180,000-250,000 VND/day. When clams sell well and sell at a good price, people hire me to work all day. When I rake clams or clean the beach, I have continuous work and a stable income."
Nghe An clams are purchased by traders and sold to wholesale agents, traditional markets, and mostly imported to seafood processing factories in Thanh Hoa, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho... for preliminary processing for export. The clam price has increased slightly, and stable consumption has helped people have more capital to reinvest in the new crop.