Raising, gutting, and skinning crocodiles to make leather products

Phu Ly (Vinh Cuu, Dong Nai) is a purely agricultural commune, located in a remote area of ​​the province. This difficult land has created many hard-working and diligent people to rise up. Ms. Hoang Thi My Nhung, owner of Ha Vy crocodile leather production and trading facility, is one of the creative examples of entrepreneurship.

Start a business to "save the day"

Coming to Phu Ly commune in the hot season, many streams have dried up, in conversations, people here mainly talk about farming, about finding water sources to irrigate crops such as mango, grapefruit... However, Ms. Hoang Thi My Nhung tells a completely different story, which is the story of selling products such as: Travel bags, women's handbags, wallets, purses, shoes, sandals, belts made of crocodile leather, a fairly high-end leather product line on the market today.

Sharing about her journey of starting a business with a difficult profession, Ms. My Nhung recalled: In 2009, her family and a few surrounding households specialized in raising crocodiles and selling them to the Chinese market. But by the time of the epidemic, in 2020, crocodiles could not be sold, and if sold domestically, the price was even lower. At the time of good prices, a crocodile sold for about 1.5 - 2 million VND. In 2020, the price of crocodiles was only about 500 thousand VND/crocodile.

Ms. Nhung analyzed: "At that time, my family raised about 2,000 crocodiles. If we sold them for 500,000 VND/crocodile, we would lose up to billions of VND. The difficulty forced us to find a solution, so my family thought of making products from crocodile leather. I started traveling to Ho Chi Minh City to find a place to tan (process the leather). I traveled for a whole week to find the right place, because not everyone could show me the right place right away.

Once I found a place to process the skin, I took it back and started researching how to cut and make the product. When I found this new direction, my family processed all the crocodiles at the farm and bought more from neighboring households. Not only did I "save" my family, but I also received higher profits when selling whole crocodiles at a good price."

Some products made from crocodile leather by Ms. Nhung.

Ms. Nhung said that her startup story is a long and difficult one, and at times it seemed like she had to stop because of the pressure. "At first, I was depressed, and the difficulties kept piling up. It was difficult from the crocodile tanning place to the experiment of making crocodile leather products. Researching how to tan leather was very difficult because no one showed me. Then the crocodile dissection process was not simple either, I had to directly instruct the crocodile dissectors on the correct technique, avoiding bruising the flesh and tearing the skin. Because I am a woman, I was also very scared when I saw the crocodile dissection scene. But because of my job, I had to try to overcome that fear," Ms. Nhung shared.

Ms. Nhung said that her first product was a men's wallet, a hand-sewn product that was bought by a student. It was these happy feelings that gave her more motivation and continued creativity to adapt to difficulties. "I am also a teacher, so the time I have to focus on starting a business is limited. In general, all difficulties are temporary, depending on each stage. But it is the trust from customers, the encouragement and care from my family and local organizations that has given me the motivation to move forward," Ms. Nhung confided.

According to Ms. Nhung, consumers have always thought that crocodile leather products are often very expensive and picky about customers. However, the products of Ha Vy Crocodile Farm have been proactive from the breeding stage to the production stage, so the selling price is much more affordable than the general market level.

Continue to innovate to adapt

In the early stages, she started her business with crocodile leather products, but now she continues to innovate with the experiential tourism model.

Ms. Nhung said: When making products, she sold them online very well during the epidemic period. But after the epidemic, the economic situation went down, sales began to slow down. Shops in tourist areas got less goods. She started to switch to experiential tourism. With the advantage of the revolutionary area of ​​​​Chien Khu D, the model of garden, forest and lake tourism in Tri An is being promoted by the locality, Phu Ly commune is increasingly attracting domestic and foreign tourists. The facility also aims to invest in a camping resort by the lake, visit the crocodile farm and choose to buy products right at the place of production. The model hopes to create a new direction to contribute to the development of local tourism and promote products to more people.

Ms. Nhung introduces her startup model.

Specifically, the facility is allowing visitors to visit the crocodile farm and production facility completely free of charge. The organization collects money when visitors participate in the experience of making simple products such as keychains and watch straps (30,000/person). Customers can take the products home. The model helps crocodile farmers solve stable output, creating jobs for many rural workers. Currently, the facility has 10 professional workers and 5 seasonal butchers. In addition, depending on the batch of goods, more workers will be mobilized to help.

Ms. Tran My Ngoc, President of the Women's Union of Vinh Cuu District (Dong Nai) commented: "Every year, the women's start-up movement in the district is increasingly thriving, many women participate, acquire, access knowledge and have started a business very successfully. A typical example is Ms. Hoang Thi My Nhung with products made from crocodile leather. The first year, Ms. Nhung participated and won 3rd prize in the start-up competition. After that, she continued to improve the product, in 2023 Ms. Nhung's start-up model won first prize in the women's start-up competition organized by the Women's Union of Dong Nai Province.

This is a bright spot and also a signal for Vinh Cuu women to promote creativity and diligence in starting a business, striving to develop the family economy, and then enriching society. Ms. Nhung is also a core member of the Women's Union of Phu Ly commune. She has joined hands with the community and locality in many charitable activities."

Contact: Ms. Hoang Thi My Nhung, owner of Ha Vy crocodile leather products production and trading facility.

Phone: 0983.959.455

Address: Binh Chanh Hamlet, Phu Ly Commune, Vinh Cuu, Dong Nai.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/khoi-nghiep-voi-nghe-kho-nuoi-mo-bung-lot-da-ca-sau-lam-san-pham-da-thuoc-20240509143748923.htm