Taking advantage of the summer vacation, children in mountainous Nghe An go to the forest to hunt “flying shrimp” (grasshoppers) to earn more money to support their families, and buy clothes and books.
The mountainous district of Tan Ky (Nghe An) is having an outbreak of locusts that have destroyed many bamboo and meter areas of people.This is also an opportunity for people and “child hunters” to earn extra income. Catching grasshoppers not only brings food, and income but also helps to eliminate insects that destroy trees and crops…Around 6 p.m. every day, in the bamboo forest, meters in Nghia Binh commune, Tan Ky district, there are a lot of people and children hunting for locusts. Because locusts will perch a lot on the branches at night, this is the ideal time to catch this insect.
Mountain children hunt grasshoppers to earn extra income
Grasshoppers are fast-growing species in the summer. Therefore, during this time, many children in Nghe An mountainous areas often follow adults into the forest to hunt. The process of catching is very laborious, but in return for the high cost of selling grasshoppers, it is possible to earn more money to support the family.To avoid bamboo thorns, and hand scratches and to prevent locust saliva, the catcher must wear thick gloves.Because it was dark, the locusts had to use flashlights on their heads and carry nets or plastic cans with holes around them to hold the locusts.Ha Van Nam (12 years old, living in Nghia Binh commune, Tan Ky district) shared: “Recently, I often follow my friends to the forest to catch grasshoppers. The grasshoppers caught me and sold for about 300,000 VND (13$). Although this is a job that faces many dangers because it often goes at night, falls easily, or is bitten by snakes… but just take advantage and work hard to have money to buy books and clothes … “.“Because they are hunted a lot, grasshoppers are also very smart, just need to see a flash of light to fly and jump right away. Therefore, catchers need to be quick with their eyes and hands, when they detect them, they must immediately grab them,” Ha Van said. Nam shared more.According to Tran Thi Trang (in Nghia Binh commune, Tan Ky district), on average, each night she takes advantage of catching about 2-3kg of grasshoppers, selling 300,000-400,000 VND (13$). Compared to other jobs, catching grasshoppers is not easy because the hot sun has to hide in the dense forest, or take risks.Currently, grasshoppers are priced from 130,000-150,000 VND/kg for fresh goods, while frozen ones are only from 100,000-120,000 VND/kg.According to Mr. Nguyen Van Manh, a small trader in Tan Ky town, Tan Ky district, Nghe An, on average, he collects about 80-100kg of locusts every day. After buying, he sent the car to Hanoi to sell to restaurants at a higher price to make a profit.
