Prospects from black apple snail farming model

In Xuan Long commune (Dong Xuan district), from a few small-scale households, this model is now being replicated and a professional association for black apple snail farming has been established, opening up many economic prospects for people in this locality.

With effective investment direction and stable market, the black apple snail model is currently being replicated in Xuan Long commune (Dong Xuan district). Photo: KHÁNH VY

Low capital, high income

The pioneer in the black apple snail farming model in Xuan Long commune is Mr. Do Duy Phong's family. According to Mr. Phong, 4 years ago, during a visit to a commercial snail farming model in the southern provinces, he realized that black apple snails are easy to raise, have few diseases, require little investment capital, and have a variety of snail food, so he boldly renovated his family's garden land, built a cement pond and dug a tarpaulin-covered earthen pond to raise snails with an area of 350m2.

At first, due to not understanding the technique, the farming process fell in the hot season, the water source did not meet the temperature requirements, so many snails died. Not discouraged, Mr. Phong spent a lot of time learning more about the reality of effective snail farming models to accumulate more knowledge and techniques. Entering the second farming season, he focused on treating the farming environment well, clean water sources, cleaning duckweed and grass, using biological products to treat the bottom of the pond, then pumping water into the pond and maintaining a high water level of 70-100cm to keep the snails safe. During the farming process, Mr. Phong always paid attention to providing enough food, not leaving excess food to pollute the pond environment, which could easily lead to snails dying. Thanks to mastering and applying science and technology in care and farming, the snails developed and grew well. Along with production, Mr. Phong proactively linked to the consumer market and participated in black apple snail farming groups on social networks to find a stable output.

Having mastered the technique and gained experience, after 1 year of commercial snail farming, in order to proactively raise the breed and supply the market, Mr. Phong continued to research and raise more parent snails to lay eggs and hatch as desired; at the same time, expand the farming scale, build more ponds and start raising profitably. Currently, his snail farming model is designed into separate farming areas such as: breeding ponds, breeding, incubation, raising snails and raising commercial snails.

“Raising apple snails is not difficult, but you have to understand the characteristics of the snails to make a high profit. Thanks to taking advantage of vegetables, squash, and pumpkins grown in the garden, I don't spend much on food. On average, I raise each batch of snails for about 4 months, harvesting 30-35 snails per kilo. Each month, I sell more than 100kg of snail meat to the market at a price of 70,000-85,000 VND/kg; and 2-week-old snails are sold for 400-450 VND/snail. After deducting expenses, my family earns more than 200 million VND/year,” said Mr. Phong.

Replicating the model

From the initial successes of the model, the local government and the farmers' association actively supported and created conditions. Mr. Phong encouraged the replication of the model to other households in and outside the locality. Not stopping there, Mr. Phong initiated the establishment of a professional farmers' association for raising black apple snails with 7 members. Since its establishment, the association has become a place where members regularly share experiences and learn snail farming techniques. Thanks to that, the farming efficiency has been improved and the income of the group's members has also increased.

With guidance, Mr. Dang Van Tinh, a member of the black snail farming association in Xuan Long commune, has switched from ineffective rice farming to snail farming for more than 2 years now. According to Mr. Tinh, he bought 1,000 snails from Mr. Phong's farm to try raising them on an area of 150 square meters. Thanks to detailed instructions on farming and care techniques, the trial farming was successful right from the start, helping his family have a stable source of income.

“Black apple snails have now become a specialty, can be processed into many delicious dishes, are popular with many people, so the demand is very high, selling at high prices. Therefore, in the near future, I will expand the scale as well as invest in equipment to raise snails, developing the family economy," Mr. Tinh said excitedly.

Mr. Ho Quang Cu in Xuan Long commune said: From a single snail farm, after joining the professional association, from personal capital, I and the members borrowed more capital from the Farmers' Support Fund to implement the model; at the same time, together we learned farming techniques, how to prepare land, use water sources, disinfect... in other places. Currently, on average, each month, the association members sell more than 100 kg of commercial snails to traders, restaurants in the locality and neighboring provinces, helping to bring a stable source of income for the members.

Black apple snails, also known as apple snails, are mollusks that live commonly in the wild in ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. However, due to polluted habitats, the invasion of golden apple snails and high market demand, black apple snails in the wild are becoming increasingly scarce. Therefore, expanding the black apple snail farming model like Mr. Phong's and many other households in Xuan Long commune brings a stable source of income compared to many other types of livestock.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoa, Vice Chairman of Dong Xuan District Farmers' Association

According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Dong Xuan district, the black apple snail farming model is quite simple, the care is not too complicated, the investment capital is low but brings clear economic efficiency, so from one or two households, up to now, in the district there are more than 20 households developing this snail farming model.

“Realizing that the model is highly effective, in the coming time, the farmers' association will continue to accompany branches and professional associations to transfer techniques, support loans, share production experiences, etc. At the same time, guide people to effectively utilize available water surface areas from ponds, lakes, and dams to develop snail farming models, thereby contributing to increasing income and promoting sustainable development of household economies,” said Mr. Hoa.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/kinh-te/202506/trien-vong-tu-mo-hinh-nuoi-oc-buou-den-266138e/