(Baonghean.vn) - Yen Thanh district (Nghe An) has been naturally granted an abundant source of swamp eels. Realizing that the eels caught by locals are often immature and need raising until reaching adult size for sufficient use value, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Minh (Dong Thi hamlet, Do Thanh commune) has invested in an eel-farming system in cement tanks, which affords him an annual return of up to VND 200 mil.

images1532765_61.jpgMr. Minh’s tanks for feeding eels are cement-made with glazed-tile cladded wall and in order to keep them clean all the time when drained.
 

In 2015, Mr. Minh made a VND 150 mil investment in a breeding model of domestication of swamp eels at a 500 m2 farming area, including 22 cement tanks with the size of each is about 4 m2 and water supply and drainage system, etc.

As he shared, such breeding model could be successfully applied in Yen Thanh thanks to the cheap, abundant sources of swamp eels in an agricultural land, in addition to the advantage of available food sources, large labor force and the highly-increasing demand for eels.

In the first year of deployment, Mr. Minh purchased approx. 800 kilograms of swamp eels from eel-fishers inside and outside Yen Thanh for commercial farming, with 50 kilograms being fed per tank on average. There were 8-10 tanks to be operated frequently, while the others were for backup purpose and sharing the eels when they grew to their necessary sizes.

Owing to the correct compliance to technical process, the loss proportion was fluctuated around only 20 – 30%. Mr. Minh also sold breeding eels for farmers from Thanh Hoa, Hai Phong, Thai Bin, Phu Tho, etc.

As he calculated, upon adopting this model, breeding eels could be sold at very high price, with averagely 140 individuals/kg at VND 300,000/kg. Meanwhile, the market price for commercial eels was VND 120,000 – 130,000/kg (about 50 individuals/kg) and could even reach to VND 150,000/kg at peak season.

Currently, his family was rearing more than 3,500 kilograms eels. After a farming duration from 6 – 8 months, he could harvest approx. more than 4 tons of commercial eels, with profit earned about VND 200 mil.

This model makes use of the trashfish source – the main food supply for swamp eels which is perennial and cheap, while the output of eels is stable. Farmers in Do Thanh and neighbor areas can apply such model and techniques in order to increase their family’s income, contributing to their hometown’s socio-economic development.

Reporter: Anh Tuan

Translator: Hien Nguyen 

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