Ho Van Phuc (born in 1988) is the head of A Dang village, Hong Thai commune. In 2018, he started raising fish in two experimental cages after learning from an acquaintance. To date, he owns 12 fish cages. Of these, tilapia make up the largest proportion – 7,000 fish, followed by over 1,200 grass carp; in addition, he also raises snakehead fish, tilapia, catfish, etc.
Visiting the "estate" of village head A Dang in the A Sap hydroelectric reservoir, I was surprised by his well-planned investment. Recalling his early days in cage fish farming, he recounted: "Back then, I didn't have much capital or skill, so I experimented, observing the fish's habits and food intake, and keeping detailed records. After selling the first batch, I reinvested all the money in buying iron to build sturdy cages to increase the number of fish I raised. Planning for the long term, I invested nearly 13 million dong in each cage, so even after five years, there's no sign of damage."
Besides supplementary industrial feed, he uses small fish from the rivers and streams and grass as his main food source. Looking at the 12 sturdy fish cages in the middle of the lake, everyone is impressed, but few know that to secure a reliable source of feed, Mr. Phuc has put in a considerable amount of effort. In addition to cutting natural grass himself, the owner of the 12 fish cages also cultivates over 1 hectare of grass for feed. One planting can yield harvests for 4-5 years.
Currently, all the carp in the cages, weighing between 1.5 and 3 kg, have been pre-ordered. In addition, there is another cage containing 600 smaller carp. Carp here sell at a high price and have the most stable demand because, according to local wedding customs, the bride's family must offer the groom's family fish, chicken, and sticky rice at the wedding feast. If all goes well, these carp cages could bring in about 50 million VND this Tet holiday. Normally, during the Tet and wedding seasons, Mr. Phuc hardly has any large carp left to sell.
Phuc's main fish harvest from his cages falls primarily during the Tet (Lunar New Year) season. When the time comes, traders and customers flock to buy fish. Currently, he and his wife sell tilapia retail on Facebook daily or according to customer demand, delivering directly to customers. With two catfish cages, his family harvests and raises a new batch every three months to minimize risks and ensure a quick return on investment. With prices ranging from 50,000 to 90,000 VND/kg depending on the type of fish, he receives orders from the communes of A Roang, Huong Lam, A Ngo, and the town center. Customers can contact him by phone for a price quote, and if they agree, they can come directly to the pond to pick up the fish, eliminating dependence on middlemen and price manipulation.
Since 2018, thanks to cage fish farming, Mr. Phuc has been able to purchase transportation and household items for his family. On average, the annual profit from cage fish farming is approximately 150-200 million VND after deducting all expenses.
Currently, several households in the A Sap hydroelectric reservoir area are participating in fish farming, sharing experiences with Mr. Phuc. To achieve the success of this model, Mr. Phuc works continuously, monitoring water quality and fish development. As a village head, he prioritizes village and national affairs, so he has to balance his time between fish farming and other activities. Especially during the rainy season, he has to anticipate water levels and plan to move the cages to safe areas for protection. "Before, I raised cattle, but after reconsidering, I found that fish farming suits my conditions, time, and utilizes the water surface area better. Besides these 12 reservoirs, next year, with a good income, I'll add a few more cages of snakehead and catfish, which are high-value fish on the market," the fish-loving village head revealed about his future plans.
According to the leaders of Hong Thai commune, Mr. Phuc is one of the few people who have persevered and succeeded with the cage fish farming model in the A Sap hydroelectric reservoir. The local authorities are coordinating with relevant departments to review and expand this model.
Source
Comment (0)