The red carp craft village prepares for the season

Although it is still about a month until the Kitchen Gods’ Day, by late calendar December, households in the red carp farming village of Thuy Tram, Tuy Loc Commune, Cam Khe District, have actively begun inspecting and caring for their red carp ponds. This ensures a sufficient supply for the market, serving the spiritual and cultural needs of the Vietnamese people.

The tradition of raising red carp in Thuy Tram Village dates back to the 1960s and has since grown into a renowned traditional craft, both within and beyond the province. In 2017, the Tuy Loc Commune People’s Committee established the “Thuy Tram Red Carp and General Agricultural Services Cooperative” to support residents in producing and trading agricultural products, particularly red carp. By 2018, the cooperative received a collective trademark certification for “Thuy Tram Red Carp,” solidifying its reputation, boosting production and consumption, and expanding its reach across the country.

Mrs. Tran Thi Hong, who has been raising red carp in Thuong Tho Hamlet for nearly 30 years, shared: “My family not only raises red carp but also purchases them from other smaller farms in the commune. Starting in late December, I visit these households to check the quality of the fish and make deposits for secure supplies. By early December in the lunar calendar, we collect the fish, and from the 18th day, we supply traders from various provinces and cities. On average, we sell about three tons per season.”

According to local residents, red carp farming requires extensive experience, gained through years of trial and error. The breeding process begins mid-year, selecting the healthiest and most vibrant parent fish for reproduction. They are given special care in separate tanks. After four days of hatching, the fry are transferred to ponds for nurturing. Typically, the fish reach the desired size—about three fingers wide—by harvest time. Starting around the 17th day of the twelfth lunar month, households begin draining ponds and catching fish to sell locally and to traders from other provinces.

Mr. Bui Van Chu, head of the Thuy Tram Red Carp Craft Village, stated that the commune has over 40 hectares dedicated to red carp farming, with more than 400 households involved. Of these, 250 households in Thuy Tram Village actively produce and trade red carp, yielding a total output of 40 tons annually.

In recent years, Tuy Loc Commune has benefited from investments in irrigation and road infrastructure, making it easier for farmers to grow and for traders from Hanoi, Son La, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, and other areas to collect and transport fish directly from the ponds.

Additionally, to enhance the economic efficiency of fish farming, families in the village have adopted land consolidation, scientific advancements, and technical innovations, leading to increased productivity and output. In previous years, the price of red carp at the pond ranged from 80,000 to 100,000 VND per kilogram. After deducting expenses, farmers earn an average income of 25 million VND per sao (approximately 0.036 hectares) or over 40 million VND per person annually.

Vy An