Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched a pilot program on raising crocodiles for skin export at a farm in Cu Chi District.

Some 2,000 crocodiles of pure freshwater breeds will be raised at Ton Phat Crocodile Farm. Presently, popular breeds are a mixture of freshwater and saltwater crocodiles.

Besides, for commercial crocodile farming, the animals must be raised separately from one another and provided with clean water periodically, said Le Minh Dung, deputy director of the department.

The program is aimed at improving the quality of crocodile skins so that they can meet required standards to be exported to Japan and European nations.

HCMC is now home to some 170,000 crocodiles being raised in 39 hectares of specialized farms for commercial purposes.