Women in Van Tho Commune, Van Ninh District has succeeded in sipunculus nudus aquaculture. This is a profitable industry helping many out of poverty...
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| Sipunculus nudus. |
Sipunculus nudus is also known as peanut worms, commonly found on subtidal zones of sandy shores to seabed . The worms hide in sand. They used to be found in a large quantity at the beach in Tuan Le Village, Van Tho Commune. However, due to over-exploitation, the worms have become almost exhausted.
Phan Thi Tuyet Nhung, Chairperson of Van Tho Commune Women’s Association is the pioneer in the sipunculus nudus aquaculture in the commune. Nhung said, “Sipunculus nudus covering 5,5ha has been reared by 10 households. The farming of sipunculus nudus has helped many people out of poverty.
Another farmer named Nguyen Thi Han said, “This is the fourth year my family has reared sipunculus nudus. Since the beginning of the year, my family has earned VND100 million from 700 kg of sipunculus nudus cultured in 1ha."
According to Han, it is not difficult to keep sipunculus nudus, which feeds on fragments of fish. Sipunculus nudus and shrimp can be kept in the same farm.
The worms hide in sand, so it is quite difficult to catch sipunculus nudus. Farmers have to hire sipunculus nudus diggers who are offfered a payment rate of 30%.
Huynh Tan Ky, Chairman of the Van Tho Commune Farmers’ Association said, “The farmers’ Association has paid concern over the profitable aquaculture, but the problem is we need to be provided experience in digging for the worms, so that culturists do not have to hire diggers. At present, the worm breeders are bought at the Fisheries Center III (formerly Research Institute for Aquaculture III) in Nha Trang City, but the survival rate is not high. The association has sent a list of 35 farmers registered for sipunculus nudus aquaculture to the district authority."
Sipunculus nudus are used as popular seafood in international and domestic markets as special food of high nutritional and pharmaceutical value. The aquaculture promises to expand helping many to improve their living standard.
N.T
