Vinh Phuc Develops Snake Raising For Exports

[CharlieJ]

Vinh Phuc Develops Snake Raising For Exports
Source: Nhan Dan

Snake raising has been developed strongly in Vinh Son commune, Vinh Tuong district, northern province of Vinh Phuc, bringing in dozens of billions of dong a year for farmers in the locality.

The trade started in 1994 since the government allowed the breeding, raising and trading of snakes by the legal snake raising farms.

Currently, 80% of 1,153 households in the commune have got involved in raising snakes.

Last year, Vinh Son snake raisers harvested 40 tonnes of snakes, earning over VND 52 billion [~$3.2mil USD], accounting for more than 60% of the commune’s total revenue.

This year, Vinh Son commune expects to earn VND 70 billion [~$4.3mil USD] from selling snakes.

Most of the raised snakes in Vinh Son have been exported to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Since 2004, technological advances to help increase effectiveness in breeding and raising snakes have been applied in Vinh Son. This has contributed greatly to sustainable development of the trade.

[telefrag]

problem is, they cant verify their origins.

some snakes that end up in markets are captive bred, but probably less than 10% of them.


as far as them "raising" these snakes, i've heard that people capture smaller animals, and hold onto them until they grow larger, then sell them.

Im not sure how many are actually captive bred, then raised then sold.

[VoodooChile]

What kind of snakes are we talking about? Vens or non-vens? Are they used for food/medicines there? Or exported to US for pet trade?

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[telefrag]

well, very few make it out of the country for the pet trade, compared to how many are used in traditional medicine, and as a high end food for the "well to do"

its all species, although for snake dishes, venomous snakes are said to have better meat quality, now for snake wines and bile/blood drinks, im sure its mostly ratsnakes,watersnakes, and other large colubrids.