Price fever, people rush to 'hunt' for field crabs

(Baonghean.vn) - Field crabs are currently priced at 50,000 - 60,000 VND/kg, many people in Nghi Loc, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Do Luong districts... of Nghe An province flock to the fields to 'hunt for crabs'.There are families that earn hundreds of thousands of dong each day by catching and selling field crabs.

Many families take advantage of the time to go to the fields to catch crabs to sell. Photo: Xuan Hoa

This is the season to catch field crabs. Because the cold season makes field crabs eat dead rice shoots and after the floods, the food source becomes abundant, so the crabs are fatter and have more roe. At this time of the previous years, the price of field crabs usually fluctuated from 9,000 VND - 11,000 VND/kg.

However, the catch of too many field crabs is becoming increasingly scarce, and in the first months of 2017, the price has increased to 15,000 VND - 20,000 VND/kg. The peak price of field crabs was more than a month ago at 50,000 - 60,000 VND/kg.

At this time, the price of field crabs is sky high at 50,000 - 60,000 VND/kg. Photo: Internet

Previously, farmers often had to bring crabs to centralized purchasing points, but now traders "hunt" crabs right on the banks of the fields.

The price of field crabs is high, and the job is suitable for all ages, so many families of 3 or 4 people go out to catch and sell crabs. Not only is the price good, but this year is also a good year for field crabs. The recent continuous rains and floods have created favorable conditions for field crabs to reproduce strongly. Many families earn hundreds of thousands of dong per day.

Each day a person can catch 4-5kg of field crabs. Photo: Xuan Hoa

“Whenever they know where we catch crabs, the crab traders come to collect them right away. Right now, crab prices are at their peak, and there are a lot of crabs in the fields this year, so on a normal day, each person can catch 4 to 5 kg of crabs,” said Nguyen Thi Tuyet (living in Nghi Loc commune).

People classify crabs before selling them to traders. Photo: Xuan Hoa

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, a crab buyer in Yen Thanh district, shared: "After purchasing the crabs, we have to hire people to classify them to sell at different prices. I have been doing this job for more than 10 years, but the price of crabs has never been as high as it has been over the past month. Since the beginning of the season, I have purchased more than 20 tons of crabs in many surrounding districts..."

Xuan Hoa