Huong snails grow in properly modified shrimp ponds. Photo: TTXVN provided
Mr. Hai shared: Before implementing the commercial snail farming model, he had more than 20 years of experience in shrimp farming. He is also one of the first people in Bac Lieu province to raise shrimp using the super-intensive high-tech farming model that is currently being popularly applied.
Mr. Hai’s snail farming story takes place in the context of shrimp farming facing many difficulties, especially a deep decline in shrimp prices for a long time. Many people, despite achieving high productivity and output in shrimp farming, still incur losses due to high investment costs. Among them, the prices of feed, seedlings, electricity, labor, and aquaculture drugs have all increased significantly.
In early 2022, Mr. Hai decided to stop shrimp farming, researched and learned from the experience of commercial snail farming in many coastal provinces throughout the country, especially in the Central provinces. After accumulating experience, in June 2022, Mr. Hai converted 4 shrimp ponds with an area of ​​6,000 m2 into commercial snail farming ponds. The source of seedlings was purchased by him from Ninh Thuan and Khanh Hoa provinces.
In his first snail farming season, Mr. Hai successfully harvested over 20 tons of Huong snails. Huong snails, which are from 90-100pcs/kg, have a price range of 100,000 – 130,000 VND/kg, from 80 – 90pcs/kg have a price range of 250,000 – 300,000 VND/kg; and from 50 – 70pcs/kg, it is priced at 420,000 VND/kg. After deducting expenses, with 4 farming ponds, Mr. Hai earned more than 1 billion VND in profit.
Realizing that commercial snail farming is a model that can be applied to develop family economic production effectively, in early 2023, Mr. Hai boldly expanded the scale of farming to more than 20 ponds. Each pond is 1,000 m2, raising 500,000 seedlings, and the stocking density is 500 pcs/m2. After 12 months of farming, Mr. Hai will harvest by selective pruning, harvesting the larger snails first. With over 20 snail farming ponds, Mr. Hai will harvest nearly 100 tons of commercial snails for export to China as well as for wholesale and retail to restaurants, eateries, and distribution markets nationwide.
Sharing about the commercial snail farming model, Mr. Hai said that this farming target has many advantages such as low labor requirements, with feeding only once a day, low risk, low electricity cost, and low feed cost. Notably, it is possible to use feed from processing by-products as a substitute for industrial feed. Thanks to this, production costs are significantly reduced.
Utilizing feed made from processed miscellaneous fish, replacing industrial feed, helps Mr. Dinh Vu Hai save significant production costs. Photo: TTXVN provided
Mr. Pham Van Muoi, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Lieu province, said that Huong snails are marine snails with high nutritional value. Mr. Dinh Vu Hai’s commercial snail farming model is a new model in the province, initially bringing high economic efficiency and promising the ability to expand production to help farmers develop their family economy. The agricultural sector of Bac Lieu province continues to grasp information and has plans to encourage coastal residents to replicate the model in order to diversify the target and forms of saltwater aquaculture. At the same time, it minimizes risks and increases profits compared to shrimp farming, which is currently facing many difficulties due to declining prices.
Mr. Dinh Vu Hai’s successful commercial Huong snail farming is no longer unfamiliar to the people in Bac Lieu. Many people have come to him with the desire to learn about the model, to gain more knowledge, and to receive advice on farming targets that are still unfamiliar to the majority of shrimp farmers. Talking with farmers who have met and exchanged about the commercial Huong snail farming model with Mr. Dinh Vu Hai, everyone shows admiration and respect for him. They admire Mr. Hai for his successful snail farming skills and admire his determination in his work.
According to Mr. Hai, if he is successful alone, it is not yet successful, and if he raises snails alone and makes a profit, there is no benefit. That is why he is always willing to share his experience so that other snail farmers can also be successful like him. Mr. Hai considers that as the true joy, more joyful than the profit he gained from harvesting and selling commercial snails worth billions of VND.
