Economy

Nghe An farmers earn good profits from raising black apple snails in tarpaulin-lined ponds.

Thanh Phuc • April 9, 2025 11:38

A farmer in Nghe An has turned a difficult-to-cultivate area into ponds for raising black apple snails using duckweed, earning hundreds of millions of dong each year.

xử lý ao — Starting in 2022, after consulting snail farming models in and outside the province, Mr. Dinh Van Hau in Toan Thang residential group, Mai Hung ward (Hoang Mai town) decided to boldly borrow capital and renovate the area near the downstream into 12 ponds for raising black apple snails. Photo: TP

Bắt đầu từ năm 2022, sau khi tham khảo các mô hình nuôi ốc trong và ngoài tỉnh, anh anh Đinh Văn Hậu, ở tổ dân phố Toàn Thắng, phường Mai Hùng (thị xã Hoàng Mai) đã quyết định mạnh dạn vay vốn, cải tạo vùng nằm gần vùng hạ lưu thành 12 ao nuôi ốc bươu đen. — On an area of 1 hectare, he renovated and lined it with waterproof tarpaulin, ensuring a clean and safe snail farming environment. Photo: TP

ốc 1 — In the ponds, he grows duckweed and water hyacinth, which help provide a natural food source and improve water quality, creating favorable conditions for snails to grow. Photo: TP

bèo 2 — Duckweed grows rapidly and is a natural food source for black apple snails. It provides the nutrients needed for healthy snail growth, reduces feed costs and increases productivity. Photo: TP

When duckweed grows strongly, regular harvesting helps control growth and maintain living space for snails. Harvested duckweed will be a rich food source for black apple snails. Photo: TP

thu hoach ốc — With a farming cycle lasting from January to July, Mr. Hau harvests black apple snails twice a year. Photo: TP

giá ốc — Each pond yields 800kg of snails, with an average selling price of 80,000 VND/kg. After deducting expenses, he earns 30 million VND/pond. With 6 harvesting ponds, the total profit reaches 180 million VND/year. Photo: TP

ốc giống — Not only raising snails, Mr. Hau also developed snail breeding. In 2024, he sold 200,000 snails, at a price of 3 million VND/10,000 snails. Photo: TP

ốc giống 2 — These seedlings are carefully cared for in trays and foam boxes and after a month clinging to the duckweed, they grow strongly, ready for the next harvest. Photo: TP

The model of raising black apple snails in tarpaulin-lined ponds is a potential direction, especially in areas with poor land, lack of irrigation water or difficult traditional agricultural cultivation. If invested in properly and linked to sustainable consumption, this model will not only bring high income to farmers but also contribute to the development of ecological, circular and sustainable agriculture.

*)Outstanding advantages of the model:

Effective control of the farming environment:
Pond lining helps farmers easily control water quality, minimizing leakage and pollution from soil or external water sources. This is especially important for sensitive species such as black apple snails.
Be proactive in disease prevention:
Raising snails in lined ponds limits pathogens from the natural environment, makes it easy to clean the pond bottom, and helps reduce the rate of disease in snails.
Space saving, suitable for difficult to cultivate land:
The model is very suitable in places with sandy soil, acid sulfate soil, or soil that is not favorable for cultivation - taking advantage of abandoned areas, creating sustainable livelihoods.
Food sources are readily available and low cost:
Duckweed, water hyacinth, and discarded vegetables are natural, cheap, and easy-to-find food sources that are both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. This is the key factor that helps the model achieve high economic efficiency.

Thanh Phuc