Strictly control water resources
During the COVID-19 pandemic, unable to go to work, Ms. Dang Thi Thu Phuong (Tan Hoa commune, Can Tho city) and her husband learned the process of raising mud-free eel on media channels and social networks.
In 2023, with support from the locality, her family started raising 10 tanks. Compared to raising muddy eel, Ms. Phuong said that this new production method is not difficult, but it is necessary to strictly follow the water exchange and feeding.
"Rearing eel without mud is quite easy, but the feeding and water exchange steps must be done at the right time. Every day, the family had to feed the eel twice and change the water 3 times. If not guaranteed, it will affect the quality of water sources and the development of the eel," said Ms. Phuong.
As one of the pioneering lung farmers in the commune, Mr. Tran Trung Tri - Head of the Chien Thang longer-term Elder Cooperation (Tan Hoa commune, Can Tho city) - said that with this model, changing water and feeding is the most important. The water source must be treated cleanly, the amount of food must be at a sufficient amount, and must increase every month.
THT was established in 2023 and currently has 11 members. The average number of members' eels ranges from 20,000 - 80,000, depending on the breeding. Each year, the eel is sold in one crop because the breeding period is 8 - 9 months. Compared to other models, the process of raising eel without mud is quite easy for clean products, Mr. Tri shared.
High profit
Applying rotating farming in generations, on average, Ms. Phuong will harvest once every more than 1 month (about 10,000 pigs). Currently, her family harvests and sells about 6 times a year, with an estimated profit of over 400 million VND.
After an effective business process and an increase in eel output, Ms. Phuong has built 6 more large tanks to expand production. It is expected that this year, her family will sell over 10 tons of eel.
Mr. Tri realized that the model of eel farming brings good economic efficiency. From the beginning up to now, the lowest consumption eel price is 70,000 VND/kg. With this price, the farmer is still quite profitable. By the cost of investment for breeds, food, water sources, ... only about 40,000 VND/kg.
Eagle prices are at VND90,000/kg. If all goes well and the eel is of good quality, by November, my family will sell 25,000, with an expected profit of about 300 million VND, said Mr. Tri.
Mr. Nguyen Van Vu - Director of the Transaction Office of Chau Thanh A Social Policy Bank (Can Tho City) - assessed that the mud-free eel farming model is effective. The proof is that customers borrowed capital and opened the bank compared to before. Currently, outstanding loans are quite high and there are especially no bad loans.
In addition to developing mud-free eel, the bank will continue to coordinate with local authorities to replicate effective models through increasing information, propaganda, and capital support. Thereby, helping people access capital and science and technology.
Mr. Nguyen Vinh Tho - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Tan Hoa commune - informed that there are about 35 households raising mud-free eel in the commune with a quantity of over 500,000 pigs. This model has been developed for 5 years with the advantage of managing food sources, water sources and controlling epidemics.
The commune's mud-free eel is mainly consumed through traders with stable output. In particular, the commune borders a company specializing in seafood processing and also consumes eel products.
In the coming time, the Farmers' Association will review and create conditions for households raising eels in the traditional way to visit and learn new models. At the same time, cooperate with banks to guide and support loans for farming households to develop models, contributing to raising income for local people.
