Benefit Analysis and Prospects of Raising River Snails in Paddy Fields

Is raising river snails profitable? Everyone has eaten river snails and knows they are a delicious aquatic product with considerable nutritional value, but can raising river snails really make money? Now let us analyze the farming benefits of raising river snails in paddy fields:

Estimated investment for raising snails in 667 sq m of paddy field

1. Seed introduction cost: 667 sq m of paddy field is stocked with 60,000 juvenile snails weighing about 100 kg, at 4 yuan per kg, totaling 400 yuan; 1,100 adult snails are stocked (at a ratio of 3 males to 8 females, each weighing 18-20 g), weighing about 21 kg, at 6 yuan per kg, totaling 126 yuan. Total seed and seedling cost: 526 yuan.

2. Cost of cultivating aquatic feed: 667 sq m is treated with 1,400 kg of manure (1,000 kg as base fertilizer, plus 4 topdressings of 100 kg each), costing 140 yuan.

3. Expenses for producing live feed such as earthworms: 100 yuan.

4. Disinfectant drugs: 50 yuan.

5. Water and electricity: 30 yuan, of which water costs 22 yuan and electricity costs 8 yuan.

6. Unforeseen expenses (the sum of items 1-5 above x 15%): 126.9 yuan in total.

The total of items 1-6 above is 973 yuan.

1. Income for the year:

① Raising juvenile snails yields returns in the same year. 7-15 days after early rice is transplanted, 60,000 river snail seedlings are stocked, and by the time late rice is harvested they have reached marketable size. Calculated at a 90% survival rate, there are 54,000 snails in total, with an average weight of 10 g each, totaling 540 kg. Under fully ecological farming, the selling price is 6 yuan per kg, for a total income of 3,240 yuan.

② Rice output increases by 10% per 667 sq m, with an annual increase (two crops) of 160 kg, while pesticide and chemical fertilizer use is reduced by 70%, increasing income and reducing expenditure by 150 yuan per 667 sq m. Total income: 3,390 yuan. 2. Expenditure for the year: 973 yuan. Balancing income against expenditure, the profit is 2,417 yuan. In the first year, 1,100 adult snails are stocked and kept in the fish ditches and fish pits for continued rearing as breeding snails for the second year. By breeding and raising them oneself, the cost of seeds and seedlings can be saved, bringing even higher returns.

(4) Management tips: To achieve the above economic benefits, the following four aspects must be handled well:

1. Pay attention to the quality of seeds and seedlings, and disinfect them carefully when stocking.

2. Manage water quality at all times to create a good ecological environment for the symbiosis of rice and snails.

3. Regularly sample and measure the body weight of the river snails and predict their survival rate, and arrange the supply of live feed accordingly.

4. Reduce intermediate sales links, and preferably sell directly to restaurants or deep-processing plants.

For more information, please visit (Sichuan Aquaculture Network http://www.46659.com )