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All smiles: It’s feeding time for the crocodiles of Tam Dang Farm in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang. — VNS Photo Cong Kha

Crocodile breeder in the Cuu Long Delta makes a killing from a killer

by Truong Cong Kha

AN GIANG — Tam Dang’s life reads like a new version of an old fairy tale.

Dang, a farmer in An Giang Province, is finding a fortune that lies not in the egg of one goose, but in the eggs of dozens of wriggling reptiles.

Fifteen years ago, Dang began a crocodile breeding business with 100 baby crocs on his Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta farm. By the start of the new millenium, his farm population had risen to nearly 10,000, and he is now looking to make significant profits by selling his product in China.

The demand for crocodile meat in China is among the highest in the world, and a kilo of the meat sells for between VND300,000 to VND350,000 there. With the domestic price of crocodile meat set at approximately VND90,000 per kg, Dang is looking hopefully at the chance to export his meat products across the border.

What has inhibited Dang and other crocodile farmers from engaging in the mass export of crocodile meat is the need for a certificate granted by the Convention on International Trading in Endangered Species (CITES).

This certificate confirms that crocodile products come from farm-bread crocs, and not those captured in the wild.

CITES recently sent a mission to Viet Nam and five crocodile breeders, including Dang, have been given applications for CITES certificates.

Having already invested VND5 billion in his 2.5-ha crocodile farm (Dang spends an average of VND10 million per month on crocodile feed), the Mekong Delta farmer is looking forward to receiving his CITES certificate.

"My crocodile farm is the only one in the Mekong Delta which was visited by the CITES mission. I am looking forward to receiving its certificate, which ensure a bright future for our products," he said. — VNS