Billionaire Tuyen Quang: Dream of getting rich from hydroelectric lake surface

Taking advantage of the clean and abundant water source from Tuyen Quang hydroelectric reservoir, many farmers have switched to cage fish farming, developing a sustainable aquaculture model. Thanks to their acumen and determination, they not only create a stable source of income but also become billionaires, contributing to promoting the local economy.

From traditional fisherman to cage fish billionaire

The family of Mr. Nguyen Van Tung - Director of Giang Tung Cooperative (Thuong Lam Commune, Lam Binh District) is one of the typical examples of economic development from cage fish farming. Previously, he and his wife mainly worked as fishermen on the lake. However, since 2010, the output of natural fish has been decreasing, making life difficult. Realizing the great potential of cage fish farming, in 2014, Mr. Tung decided to invest in this field.

"Initially, I only had about 20 fish cages with an investment capital of more than 500 million VND. But after many years of expansion and technical improvement, I now own more than 100 fish cages, specializing in raising specialty fish such as silver carp, catfish, sturgeon, and crispy carp..." - Mr. Tung shared.

Thanks to the advantage of a natural water environment, rich in oxygen and low in pollution, fish raised in cages grow healthily, have delicious meat quality, and are very popular in the market. Currently, silver carp and sturgeon have a farming time of 2-3 years, reaching a weight of 2.5 - 3kg/fish and have a selling price ranging from 180,000 - 220,000 VND/kg. Meanwhile, catfish and grass carp have a lower selling price, about 80,000 - 120,000 VND/kg, but have a shorter farming time, only 8 - 12 months. On average, each fish cage when harvested reaches about 3 - 4 tons, equivalent to a revenue of about 350 - 400 million VND/cage.

Not only stopping at commercial fish farming, Mr. Tung is researching and applying a closed model, from producing fish fry to processing clean fish products. It is expected that in the period of 2025 - 2030, he will expand the scale to 150 cages, increasing the total fish output to 500 tons/year, aiming to export to the Chinese market and some Southeast Asian countries.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tung pours bran to take care of the specialty fish in Thuong Lam commune.

Realizing the potential for ecotourism development, many cooperatives in Thuong Lam have combined aquaculture with tourism services. Floating restaurants on the lake, fishing tours, and enjoying local specialties are attracting a large number of tourists.

"Every year, our cooperative welcomes many groups of tourists to visit and enjoy the cuisine. We continue to expand our services to attract more tourists." - Mr. Tung said.

Cold water fish farming - a new direction with great potential

Not only developing fish cages on the lake, Mr. Hoa Tien Nam - Director of the Cold Water Fish and Tourism Service Cooperative Ai Au Retreat Co-Operative is pioneering the model of raising cold water sturgeon at the foot of Ai Au pass.

Currently, the cooperative has built two fish farms with an area of ​​2,000m², harvesting about 20 tons of sturgeon each year. This year, Mr. Nam plans to expand the scale, increasing the total output to 80 tons, with an estimated revenue of over 8 billion VND/year.

According to Ms. Quan Thi Cat - Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Thuong Lam Commune, cage fish farming has made an important contribution to the local economic development, helping many households escape poverty and become rich. In addition, this model also promotes the process of building a new model rural area, creating a foundation for sustainable development.

"Revenue from fish farming not only helps improve people's lives but also contributes significantly to the commune budget, supporting social security programs. In particular, the trend of combining aquaculture and ecotourism is opening up a potential direction, helping localities attract tourists and effectively promote regional specialties." - Ms. Cat emphasized.

She also added that the local government will continue to support farming households in terms of techniques, preferential loans and market connections to ensure stable output for products. "We believe that, with the support of the government and the creativity and determination of the people, cage fish farming in Thuong Lam will continue to develop strongly, contributing to building a modern and sustainable rural economy," Ms. Cat affirmed.

Fish raised on Tuyen Quang hydroelectric reservoir have good quality thanks to clean water source.

With nearly 326 fish cages in the whole commune, the total farming area is up to thousands of square meters, Thuong Lam has become the largest aquaculture center in Tuyen Quang province. The annual fish harvest output is about 400 tons, of which silver carp, catfish and sturgeon account for a large proportion. The total revenue from aquaculture activities of the commune reaches over 40 billion VND/year, bringing a stable source of income for hundreds of households. Notably, many cooperatives and households have boldly invested in clean fish farming technology, applying a closed process from selecting breeds, caring for them to harvesting to improve product quality, meeting market requirements.

In the coming time, the local government will continue to support people to expand production scale, improve product quality and develop a system of links with businesses to create sustainable output. It is expected that by 2030, the number of fish cages will increase to 400 cages, fish output will reach 500 tons/year, helping to raise the total revenue of the whole commune to over 50 billion VND.

The dream of getting rich from the hydroelectric lake surface has become a reality, turning Thuong Lam into a prosperous countryside, developing according to a modern rural economic model. The billionaire farmers here have not only changed their lives but also contributed significantly to promoting the local aquaculture industry, motivating the younger generation to continue and effectively exploit the available potential for sustainable development.

Editor of Provincial Portal

Source: http://tuyenquang.gov.vn/vi/post/ty-phu-tuyen-quang-giac-mo-lam-giau-tu-mat-ho-thuy-dien?type=NEWS&id=141396