Mr. Ban Van Ta (right), Khau Tinh village, Khau Tinh commune, introduces to people the model of raising rock crabs.

Previously, in 2019, Mr. Ta and other households in the village enthusiastically implemented a cabbage growing model on 8 hectares of agricultural land under a poverty reduction project. Initially, the vegetable crop brought high income to the people, with some households earning nearly VND100 million. However, by mid-2021, product output was unstable, vegetables were damaged, hundreds of tons of vegetables were wasted, and the cooperative gradually disbanded.

Undaunted, in 2025, Ta boldly invested VND60 million - the family's last capital - to raise rock crabs and forest frogs for reproduction. By taking advantage of the land along the stream, he built 3 corrugated iron and cement cages, divided into 2 crab cages and 1 frog cage.

According to him, rock mountain crabs are easy to raise, suitable for the climate and soil conditions of Khau Tinh. They need a humid environment, with many caves and dry trash to hide. Each kilogram of crab currently costs about VND120,000. Not only does he buy crabs from people to fatten them, he also preserves valuable genetic resources that are gradually depleting in the wild.

In particular, he has had initial success in breeding wild frogs, a native animal with high nutritional value. With thousands of tadpoles and self-sufficient food sources such as earthworms, calcium worms, and young grasshoppers, this model is expected to bring in a stable income with frogs selling for about VND200,000 per kg.

Not only is it a livelihood solution, Mr. Ta's crab and frog farming model also contributes to the conservation of native wildlife. With perseverance and determination to overcome geographical limitations, this farmer is opening up a new direction for household economic development in the Khau Tinh mountain region.