Veteran successfully raises snakehead fish.

Over the past period, upholding the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement, boldly transforming crops and livestock, and applying science and technology to production, the Veterans' Associations at all levels in Tran Van Thoi district have implemented many effective models. A typical example is the commercial catfish farming model of Mr. Nguyen Dang Khoa (Tam Khoa) in Lung Thuoc hamlet, Loi An commune.

With over a decade of experience raising snakehead fish, veteran Nguyen Dang Khoa understands the characteristics of this species. He alternates between shrimp farming and snakehead fish farming according to the season and market prices. Taking advantage of periods when shrimp ponds are empty due to low prices, Mr. Khoa boldly started raising snakehead fish in 5 ponds, each over 1,000 m2, plus a settling pond for water changes. Based on practical experience and the determination of a veteran, in the last season, after more than 4 months of raising, the fish reached a size of 38 fish per kilogram. Mr. Khoa harvested 1.7 tons from one pond at a price of 145,000 VND/kg, earning a profit of over 200 million VND after deducting expenses.

Veteran Nguyen Dang Khoa utilizes his industrial shrimp farming ponds to raise snakehead fish, providing him with a stable income.

Raising snakehead fish is easy, less risky, and requires less capital than raising shrimp. They are fed three times a day, and once they reach a size of 40 fish per kilogram, the feeding frequency is reduced to two times a day. According to Mr. Khoa's experience, before stocking, the pond must be cleaned, then treated with quicklime, left to dry for about two days, and then the water is used for farming. Snakehead fish also have fewer diseases, require less care than shrimp farming, and don't need aerators, thus saving costs.

The difficulty in raising snakehead fish lies in the source of fingerlings. Currently, Mr. Khoa has to buy fingerlings from Nguyen Viet Khai commune, Phu Tan district, because there is no stable source of fingerlings in the district. This makes the supply of fingerlings scarce and the price high, relying only on fingerlings from local people raising them in the wild, resulting in inconsistent and unpredictable farming cycles. Currently, the Veterans Association of Tran Van Thoi district is promoting and improving the quality of the "Exemplary Veterans" movement, linking it with the movement of veterans helping each other develop the economy , reduce poverty, and get rich with practical and diverse models. During the farming process, Mr. Khoa wholeheartedly helps anyone who needs support with fingerlings, feed, fertilizer, or medicine.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Khoa happily shared: "I've been raising snakehead fish for over 10 years, with a few years of interruption due to falling prices. Now that I'm back, it's highly effective and more profitable than shrimp farming, so I've switched to raising snakehead fish. I've also guided my neighbors to do the same, and they're achieving good results."

Mr. Nguyen Van Bac, Chairman of the Veterans Association of Loi An commune, informed: "Over the years, Mr. Khoa has always supported the people, expanding the model of raising snakehead fish to jointly develop the household economy."

Veterans' associations are actively encouraging their members to develop their economy. The success of veteran Nguyen Dang Khoa's model of utilizing industrial shrimp ponds to raise snakehead fish demonstrates that if people know how to utilize abandoned ponds and lagoons to raise snakehead fish, it will open up new prospects, bring high efficiency, and help people escape poverty and achieve sustainable income.

Vu Linh

Source: https://baocamau.vn/cuu-chien-binh-nuoi-ca-keo-hieu-qua-a37290.html