A new direction from mud crab farming in Dinh Quan.

Members of the Phu Ngoc Fisheries Cooperative are delighted on the day they sell their mud crabs.

Strong connections – the foundation of change

Following the success of his first batch of mud crabs, Mr. Nguyen Van Quoc (from Hamlet 1, Dinh Quan Commune, a member of Phu Ngoc Aquaculture Cooperative) received another batch of mud crab juveniles. This time, Mr. Quoc imported an additional 200 juveniles, worth nearly 60 million VND, bringing the total number of mud crabs being raised at his family's farm to approximately 500. All the juveniles were purchased by the cooperative from a company in Ca Mau , a unit with quarantine certification and a long-standing reputation in the aquaculture sector. Thanks to this, the farmers can feel completely secure when investing in farming.

Mr. Quoc shared: "Previously, my family raised turtles, but the results were poor and the risks were high. Only when the cooperative introduced the mud crab farming model did I dare to switch: 'Before, my family raised turtles, but the results weren't very good. Now, switching to mud crab farming, the profits are much better. These mud crabs can be sold after 30 months of farming, they have high resistance, and are less prone to disease,'" Mr. Quoc said.

Like Mr. Quoc's family, many other households in Dinh Quan commune have also boldly switched to raising soft-shelled turtles after receiving support from the Phu Ngoc Aquaculture Cooperative. Mr. Tran Van Thien's family (residing in Hamlet 1) previously raised soft-shelled turtles, but the results were poor, feed costs were high, and the market was uncertain. When the cooperative implemented the pilot model, Mr. Thien was one of the first households to register, with 500 hatchlings.

Mr. Thien shared: “Previously, raising soft-shelled turtles yielded little profit, and prices fluctuated constantly. Since switching to raising mud crabs, I feel much more secure. The cooperative provides the breeding stock, there is technical guidance, and businesses buy the produce. As long as you take care of them using the right techniques, you can have a stable income.”

After nearly two years of pursuing the mud crab farming model, Mr. Thien's family is preparing to harvest their first batch of crabs, expecting to earn a significant profit, many times greater than their previous turtle farming. This success has motivated many neighboring households to learn from them and join the cooperative.

The linkage also helps create collective strength. Instead of individual small households, cooperatives group together into concentrated farming areas, making it easier to promote their products, negotiate with purchasing businesses, and build brands. This is something that farmers could not achieve on their own before.

"Without a tripartite partnership, this model would be difficult to implement. The cooperative is responsible for finding markets, the enterprise guarantees purchase, and the farmers take care of the cultivation. Everyone has a role, and everyone benefits," affirmed Lam Tuan Hung, Chairman of the Cooperative.

Replicating the model and building the brand of Phu Ngoc mud crab.

Mr. Lam Tuan Hung, Chairman of Phu Ngoc Fisheries Cooperative, said: "The journey to raising spiny crabs was not easy. The Cooperative's Management Board traveled all the way to Bac Lieu and Ca Mau to survey and meet with suppliers of breeding stock and product buyers."

Mr. Hung recalled: “At the end of 2023, the cooperative had 10 households participating in the pilot project. Now, after 23 months, the first batch of mud crabs has been harvested, each selling for about 1.1 million VND. After deducting expenses, the profit is about 600,000 VND per crab. This is a very good profit margin compared to many other aquaculture models.”

The mud crab farming model at Phu Ngoc Aquaculture Cooperative is becoming a bright spot in the development of agricultural economy in Dinh Quan commune. The proactive approach of the people and the cooperative in seeking new directions, daring to change, and collaborating has contributed to creating high-value specialty aquatic products. Not only does this model help increase income for many households, but it also opens up prospects for product diversification and reducing dependence on low-efficiency traditional livestock. If it continues to be replicated and supported in the right direction, mud crab farming could completely become a key industry, contributing to improving people's lives and promoting local economic development.

According to Mr. Hung, the main food for mud crabs is pellet feed, so they only need to be fed once a day, in the morning or afternoon. Even those working in factories can raise them, as it doesn't require much time for care.”

Currently, Phu Ngoc Aquaculture Cooperative has 36 members, of which 24 households are raising mud crabs on a scale of thousands of crabs in total. Based on the positive results, the cooperative is continuing to encourage other households to participate in expanding the farming area, aiming to build the Phu Ngoc mud crab brand in the future.

Local authorities also highly appreciate the potential of this model. Mr. Nguyen Xuan An, Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Dinh Quan commune, commented: "Between raising soft-shelled turtles and mud crabs, raising mud crabs is significantly more economically efficient. The price of soft-shelled turtles is only about 80-100 thousand VND/kg, while mud crabs sell for 280-300 thousand VND/kg. Thanks to this, many households have boldly switched to raising mud crabs."

The cooperative is coordinating with the government to propose support solutions such as: technical guidance, training, supplying quality breeding stock, and finding stable markets, aiming to form a closed value chain from breeding stock - feed - care techniques - consumption.

“The key to the success of the mud crab farming model in Dinh Quan commune is the close linkage between the cooperative, businesses, and farmers. Previously, people in the commune mainly raised aquatic products based on experience, each doing their own thing, lacking stable markets, and inconsistent seed sources, leading to unstable economic efficiency. The emergence of Phu Ngoc Aquaculture Cooperative has completely changed that approach,” said Mr. Nguyen Xuan An, Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Dinh Quan commune.

Hien Luong

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202512/huong-di-moi-tu-nuoi-cua-dinh-o-dinh-quan-e710184/