Not only do they search localities, traders also post many articles on social networks looking to buy cicada carcasses at high prices.
Massive purchasing
According to Ms. D.H, a trader who buys cicada carcasses in the H. Ngoc Hoi area (Kon Tum), there are 2 types of cicadas, a thin body with bright red color, a thick carcass with a dark color. than. The thin type has a lower price than the thick type. The price of tick carcasses also ranges from 800,000 – 1 million VND/kg. For many days, Ms. D.H has been looking to buy cicada corpses and then resell them to Chinese traders.
“Cicada carcasses, also known as turtle boats, have many uses. Every year Chinese traders buy them, but this year the price is higher,” said Ms. D.H.
| Traders look to buy cicada carcasses at high prices. SCREEN CAPTURE |
To have enough goods to sell to foreign traders, traders in Kon Tum are not afraid to buy from one tael to several quintals, as much as they want, with no volume limit.
In the past few days, a lot of information has been posted on Facebook groups related to the purchase of cicada corpses. Each post has different purchasing prices, from 600,000 VND/kg to several million VND/kg.
Based on the phone number in a post on social networks, reporter Bao Youth contacted Ms. LS directly (in H.Dak Ha, Kon Tum), who was willing to come to the place to buy cicada carcasses. Ms. LS said, Dak Ha District is considered the coffee capital of Kon Tum province. According to their behavior, ticks often grow and develop well under coffee trees. That’s why many traders come to H. Dak Ha to hunt for cicada corpses.
According to Ms. LS, currently preparing for summer, cicada pupae crawl from the ground to the coffee tree to replace their bodies. Therefore, cicada corpses hanging on coffee trees are easy to find. In one afternoon, 1 – 2 kg of tick carcasses can be collected.
“I am buying tick carcasses for 700,000 VND/kg. If I collect more than 5 kg, the price is 800,000 VND/kg. These tick carcasses are for sale to Chinese traders, who buy them to make medicine. They collected them. Bought a long time ago, the quantity is almost enough so they need the goods urgently,” Ms. LS said.
Also according to Ms. LS, those who have goods they want to sell just need to give their phone number and address, and she will come to their home to buy them.
| Cicada corpses are bought by many traders at high prices and then sold to Chinese traders. Photo: TRANG ANH |
Not only Ms. LS but also many other traders are looking to buy cicada corpses at prices ranging from 700,000 VND/kg to 2 million VND/kg. The price of this type of product is increasingly pushed up to dizzying heights. Many people even leave their farming jobs behind to collect cicada carcasses.
Caution is needed
Mr. Dao Tuan, Chairman of Dak Su Commune People’s Committee (H.Ngoc Hoi) said that through inspection, the commune discovered that there is a household in the commune purchasing cicada carcasses. This household said it buys to resell to other traders.
“Because this is not a banned item, after inspection, the Commune People’s Committee only reminded this household to be wary of fraudulent tricks. In addition, the commune has also propagated people to be wary of fraud tricks. prices of agricultural products from traders,” Mr. Tuan said.
| Traders do not hesitate to come to the place to buy goods if they have goods. Photo: TRANG ANH |
According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Chief of Office of the People’s Committee of H. Ngoc Hoi, the district has received information about traders in the area purchasing cicada carcasses. District leaders have directed communes to check and review the situation of traders purchasing cicada carcasses. The district also asked communes to find out the cause of this situation. What is the motivation and purpose of traders in purchasing cicada corpses? Based on reports from communes and districts, there will be specific directions and recommendations.
“The district also directs communes to organize propaganda and popularize for people to avoid cases where digging and catching cicadas affects the distribution and survival of beneficial organisms in the soil environment. Thereby having a negative impact to the development of crops. We advise people to be alert and cautious with information about buying cicada carcasses at high, fraudulent prices, affecting social life in the area,” Mr. Nghi said.
On April 24, talking to reporters, a leader of the Dak Ha People’s Committee said that after the reporter’s feedback, the district will direct communes to check and review the status of purchasing cicada carcasses, and at the same time recommend People raise awareness against fraudulent tricks.
| Cicada corpses have been used as oriental medicine for a long time but are not commonly used. Photo: TRANG ANH |
According to physician To Manh Cuong, Chairman of the Oriental Medicine Association of Kon Tum province, cicada carcasses, also known as boat turtles, meditation corpses, meditation tax… are used in traditional medicine as a common medicine. Cicada carcasses are mainly used to treat a number of diseases such as epilepsy, fever, cough, loss of voice, otitis media…
“Cicada carcasses have been used as oriental medicine for a long time but are not commonly used. Cicada carcasses are very light, so collecting 1 kg of cicada carcasses takes a lot of effort,” Mr. Cuong said.
