Helping people escape poverty through snail farming.

TPO - Not only has Mr. Tran Quy Bao (residing in Binh Minh commune, Nghe An province) achieved economic success through his snail farming model, but he has also helped many local families develop the model to gradually escape poverty.

Carefully spreading chopped leaves into the snail ponds, Mr. Tran Quy Bao (born in 1980, residing in Binh Minh commune, Nghe An province ) monitors the water level and condition to ensure a suitable living environment for tens of thousands of snails. “The water for raising snails should only be 50-100cm deep, and 30% of the water must be changed once a week. Adhering to this schedule is essential for the snails to thrive,” Mr. Bao said, adding that he currently has over 80 snail ponds covering an area of ​​3 hectares. Each year, his snail farm sells over 4 million snail hatchlings and more than 65 tons of commercial snails, generating a profit of over 3 billion VND annually.

Mr. Bao dug a 500m2 pond for raising snails, deep in the middle and shallow on both sides to allow the snails to thrive.

Looking at Bao's achievements today, few would know that he once went through difficult times and went bankrupt. But with unwavering determination, Bao accepted daily interest loans to start his business and rose from hardship.

Bao recounted that over seven years ago, he was a penniless farmer after being cheated by a business partner and burdened with a debt of over 1.2 billion VND. He was so desperate that at one point, he considered selling the house his parents left him to pay off the debt. But then fate led him to the business of raising black snails – a rural delicacy – which offered him a promising future.

In his first breeding season, starting with 20,000 snail hatchlings, Mr. Bao harvested over 4 tons of snails.

In 2018, after being introduced to the black snail farming model by relatives, Mr. Bao borrowed 12 million VND at daily interest to learn more. After thorough research, Mr. Bao bought 20,000 snail hatchlings to experiment with in a 500m2 earthen pond on his family's land.

After four months of diligent care, 20,000 snail hatchlings grew into 4 tons of marketable snails, selling for 280 million VND. Realizing he could make a living from snail farming, Mr. Bao boldly borrowed more money and rented more land to dig ponds and expand his farming area. With an additional 150 million VND loan from the Provincial Farmers' Association and 20 million VND in support from the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, Mr. Bao became even more determined to expand his farming area.

The snails' food source consists of leaves from plants grown on the riverbanks, which reduces costs and allows the snails to thrive naturally.

According to Mr. Bao, raising snails is not difficult; the important thing is that the breeder must adhere to principles and ensure a suitable living environment. “It’s absolutely essential to follow the laws of nature. The denser the grass around the pond, the more snails will come ashore to lay eggs. The pond should be designed with a deep center and shallow sides, similar in length to a ditch. When it’s cold, the snails will go deep into the mud to hibernate; when it’s cool, they come up to the edges of the pond to find food and mate, then climb ashore to lay eggs. Their food consists of cassava leaves, Bidens pilosa plants, papaya leaves, papaya fruit, unripe jackfruit… all chopped up and thrown into the pond. These are natural foods, so the snail meat from the farm tastes as good as wild snails,” Mr. Bao shared.

To date, on an area of ​​over 3 hectares, Mr. Bao has more than 80 ponds for breeding and raising snails. Each year, his farm supplies the market with approximately 65 tons of commercial snails and 4 million breeding snails, achieving a profit of over 3 billion VND. His commercial black snail product was certified OCOP 3-star in 2020.

Mr. Bao's farm provides stable employment for 10 workers.

Not only has Mr. Bao developed his family's economy , but he has also created stable jobs for 10 local workers. In particular, Mr. Bao has wholeheartedly shared his knowledge, provided technical guidance, and supplied breeding stock to many households within and outside the commune to jointly develop the black snail farming model. Thanks to this, many families have escaped poverty and achieved stable lives.

Mr. Vu Trong Quang, Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Binh Minh commune, affirmed: "Mr. Tran Quy Bao's black snail farming model is a shining example in the sustainable poverty reduction movement in the locality. Besides developing his own family's economy, he also guides and assists dozens of local households in snail farming, and many families have risen out of poverty. In addition, Mr. Bao actively participates in social welfare activities and the construction of new rural areas."

Notably, Mr. Bao has helped many local households gradually escape poverty through his snail farming model.

From a family burdened with debt and seemingly on the verge of ruin, Mr. Bao has now built a prosperous home, contributing to changing the face of his hometown. Even more noteworthy, his black snail farming model not only brings economic value but also provides a sustainable path to poverty reduction for many other farming households in the area.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/giup-nguoi-dan-thoat-ngheo-tu-nhung-con-oc-post1776896.tpo