Raising mud-free eels, a specialty that is increasing in price well in Kien Giang, why does the eel seed seller say this?

In Kien Giang province, many eel farmers said: With the current eel price, farmers are guaranteed to make a profit, but they are still considering investing in raising the crop to avoid the situation of supply exceeding demand.

As one of the first households to apply the mud-free eel farming model using pellet feed in Long Thanh commune, Giong Rieng district (Kien Giang province), Ms. Huynh Thi Dieu, Nga Con hamlet excitedly said: Since the beginning of July 2024, the price of eel meat has gradually increased until now and currently traders are purchasing at the price of the best eel (200 grams/eel) at 115,000 VND/kg, an increase of 20,000 VND/kg compared to the price from June 2024 and before.

“Families usually maintain raising 10,000-12,000 eels and divide them into many batches of 3,000-5,000 to avoid having to harvest too much at the time of harvest, which can easily lead to traders forcing down prices.

In addition, because they are raised in many batches, they can be sold retail to local traders and restaurants at a price 10,000-15,000 VND/kg higher than when traders buy in bulk, helping to increase profits.

Recently, the price of eel meat has gradually increased to more than 110,000 VND/kg. The family is very excited and will increase the quantity of eel raised, hoping that the price of eel meat will remain at this level or higher to develop the family economy," said Ms. Dieu.

In U Minh Thuong district, one of the localities with a large number of mud-free eels in Kien Giang province (more than 20 households with more than 100 tanks, more than 300,000 eels), some people who specialize in supplying eel seeds in the district said that the increase in eel meat prices has led to a more active buying and selling of eel seeds.

High-density mud-free eel farming model in Long Thanh commune, Giong Rieng district (Kien Giang province). The price of commercial eel has increased to over 110,000 VND/kg, helping eel farmers make a profit. Photo: Van Si - VNA.

Mr. Dang Chi Tam, a specialist in supplying eel seeds in Minh Dung hamlet, Minh Thuan commune, U Minh Thuong district, said: From 2022 to mid-2024, due to the low price of eel meat, the price of eel seeds also decreased to 3,000 - 3,500 VND/eel, but the number of eel seeds sold decreased sharply, by 60% compared to before.

“Since mid-July 2024, the price of eel meat has increased, so the number of eel fry ordered by customers has increased. On average, the facility sells about 30,000 eels per month, an increase of 10,000 eels compared to before. With the current price of commercial eels from 110,000 VND/kg, farmers will make a profit of 25,000-30,000 VND/kg after deducting expenses.

However, the price of eel meat depends on the domestic consumption market, so it is not stable, so farmers should consider and not increase the quantity of stocking too much to avoid supply exceeding demand," Mr. Tam shared.

Also concerned that the increase in eel prices will lead to a massive stocking that could easily lead to a price drop in the near future, Mr. Le Van Bao, Long Thanh commune, Giong Rieng district, said that his family had just sold more than 3,000 eels for 110,000 VND/kg. This is the highest price in the 3 eel farming batches his family has raised since the beginning of 2022 and brought in a profit of more than 8 million VND.

According to the reporter's records, the price of commercial eel in some provinces in the West such as Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Can Tho city, the price of first-class commercial eel is being purchased by traders at a price of 110,000 - 115,000 VND/kg; eel pushed horizontally is priced at 100,000 VND/kg. This price has increased by 20,000 - 25,000 VND/kg compared to the time from July 2024 and before.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang province, the province has about 360 households raising mud-free eels with nearly 1,650 ponds. Some districts with many farmers applying this model include: Go Quao, U Minh Thuong, Tan Hiep, An Minh, Giong Rieng, Chau Thanh and mainly eel farmers in a spontaneous form.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, Deputy Director of Kien Giang Agricultural Extension Center, said: The mud-free eel farming model has been applied by farmers since 2016 and has developed strongly since 2019.

The mud-free eel farming model is easy to apply, has relatively low investment costs and rarely causes diseases, so many farmers take advantage of the space around their houses or empty pig pens after the blue ear pig epidemic to switch to eel farming.

Compared to previous years, people mainly raised mud-free eels to help increase their income. In recent years, the mud-free eel farming model has become the main economic development occupation of many households in the province with a fairly large farming scale, from 20,000-30,000 fish/household/year.

In order for the mud-free eel farming model to develop stably and bring economic efficiency to farmers, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center regularly conducts statistics on the number of households and mud-free eel farming tanks to assess the development of this farming species.

At the same time, increase the search for businesses specializing in purchasing, processing and exporting commercial eels to introduce, connect with eel farming cooperatives in the province to purchase and guarantee output at stable prices.

At the same time, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center continues to coordinate with relevant units to organize training and transfer science and technology to farmers; mobilize the establishment of eel farming cooperatives meeting VietGAP standards, associated with building model models for farmers to visit, learn and apply; promote information and propaganda for eel farming households to develop stable quantity, quality, and not use antibiotics to ensure export enterprises.

Source: https://danviet.vn/nuoi-luon-khong-bun-con-dac-san-dang-tang-gia-tot-o-kien-giang-sao-ong-ban-luon-giong-noi-cau-nay-20241020225503791.htm