Eel farmers in Ca Mau face difficulties in finding buyers.

Currently, many commercial eel farmers in Ca Mau are facing difficulties as prices have plummeted and sales are almost nonexistent. Not only are they facing losses, but farmers also risk losing all their investment costs because the eels are past their optimal size but cannot be sold.

• Mudless eel farming - Easy to care for, effective.
• The effectiveness of the rice-shrimp farming model and mudless eel farming.

In An Trach commune , a locality with a thriving eel farming movement, over 100 tons of marketable eels remain unsold. Approximately 24 households in the commune raise eels on a scale of 8 tons or more, but paradoxically, there are no traders willing to buy the eels when they are ready for harvest.

Eels that are over six months past their optimal age, weighing over 0.5 kg each.

The current price of eels fluctuates between only 37,000 and 40,000 VND/kg, the lowest ever, while high investment costs put eel farmers in a dilemma: selling means losses, but keeping them incurs even higher costs.

In Hamlet 2, as many as 12 households are facing a "market bottleneck." Nguyen Hoang Linh, a new eel farmer, said: "This is my first year raising eels. Seeing that the price was around 80,000 VND/kg before, I boldly invested over 400 million VND. Currently, I have over 5 tons of eels that are overgrown (4 months past their optimal size). Selling them would result in a loss, but keeping them is also a problem."

Nguyen Hoang Linh's wife changed the water in the eel pond, which had passed its optimal age by 4 months.

Not only are new farmers struggling, but many long-time eel farmers are also facing difficulties. Over-grown eels are driving up feed costs, while selling prices are plummeting. Worryingly, continuing to raise new batches of eels is causing many farmers to become overloaded.

Mr. Vo Hoang Minh (second from the left), Chairman of the Farmers' Association of An Trach commune, surveys the market situation at the fish pond of Mr. Nguyen Cao Bang (second from the right).

Mr. Nguyen Cao Bang, from Hamlet 2, shared: “The price has dropped too low; selling now would result in heavy losses. Previously, the costs meant we had to sell at 50,000-60,000 VND/kg to make a profit, but now traders only buy at 36,000-37,000 VND/kg. If we can't sell them, we have to hold onto them. The old eels haven't left yet, and a new batch is coming, forcing us to stock the ponds, doubling the density.”

Due to the inability to sell their produce, many households are forced to raise their fish at high densities, posing a risk of disease outbreaks. Some households have even had to borrow money to invest in new ponds, further increasing financial pressure. Meanwhile, feed prices continue to rise, by approximately 60,000 VND per bag, driving up production costs.

Eels are raised in high densities.

Mr. Vo Hoang Minh, Chairman of the An Trach Commune Farmers' Association , said: "Currently, prices are volatile, feed costs are high, and large eels require a lot of resources but cannot be sold. We propose that relevant authorities and businesses pay attention to connecting farmers with markets and stabilizing prices so that farmers can produce with peace of mind."

In reality, the issue of market access for commercial eels is becoming increasingly urgent. Farmers urgently need support in connecting with markets, finding stable outlets, and orienting production appropriately to avoid oversupply. Without timely solutions, the risk of widespread losses, and even farmers abandoning the profession, is unavoidable.

Le Thai - Hoang Vu

Source: https://baocamau.vn/nguoi-nuoi-luon-ca-mau-bi-dau-ra--a128084.html