During the season for drying freshwater fish.

This year's floodwaters are at a high level, and the amount of freshwater fish is also greater than in previous years. These days, at markets in the Dong Thap Muoi region of Tay Ninh province, the atmosphere of trading in dried freshwater fish is more vibrant, and the production of finished dried products has also increased compared to normal days.

Visiting Tan Hung commune market these days, you'll see many shelves of fish drying in the sun. Everyone has a job to do: some are preparing the fish, others are trimming the fins and filleting, and still others are processing and marinating it. Inside the market hall, stalls selling dried fish are attractively arranged with many different varieties. Traders are busy weighing, packaging, and labeling the fish for delivery according to orders.

People are drying freshwater fish during the season.

Ms. Le Thi Diem, a small trader at Tan Hung commune market, said: "Freshwater fish are available year-round, but there are more during the flood season. On average, I process about 50-70 kg of fresh fish per day, double the amount compared to previous years."

The dried fish here is made from various types of freshwater fish such as snakehead fish, catfish, eel, tilapia, and other species. The fish is processed from fresh fish, manually through many steps such as cleaning, deboning, marinating with spices, and drying directly in the sun.

In this process, the seasoning is crucial to creating a unique flavor, and this is also the secret of each person who makes dried fish. The fish is marinated with various spices (salt, garlic, MSG, chili, etc.), then sun-dried, thus preserving the natural sweetness, chewiness, and aroma of freshwater fish.

According to Ms. Nguyen Kim Tuyen, owner of a dried fish business at Vinh Hung commune market, the fish are carefully selected fresh and naturally sun-dried without the use of drying machines or preservatives. To make 1kg of dried snakehead fish or catfish, approximately 4kg of fresh fish is needed; 1kg of dried eel or trevally requires approximately 3kg of fresh fish; and 1kg of dried catfish requires approximately 6kg of fresh fish.

Currently, dried fish prices are stable compared to previous years. Dried snakehead fish and catfish are priced from 400,000-500,000 VND/kg, mudfish from 350,000-400,000 VND/kg, catfish at 350,000 VND/kg, and tilapia at 230,000 VND/kg, etc.

Many dried fish products from localities in the Dong Thap Muoi region of the province have been recognized as OCOP products and are available in many places both within and outside the province, with some even being exported abroad. The dried fish making industry not only helps people become more prosperous but also creates jobs for many unemployed laborers, providing them with additional income during the flood season.

Trung Kien - Truong Hai

Source: https://baolongan.vn/vao-mua-lam-kho-ca-dong-a205578.html