Villagers in Gonghe village, Huiping town package crabs at a family farm. [Photo/WeChat account: qidongfabu]

In recent years, many major crab-producing areas have adopted a precision management strategy based on the natural environment, paying special attention to the proportion and quality of male and female crabs.

Against this backdrop, numerous crab farmers in Huiping town, Qidong, Nantong, Jiangsu province are embracing innovation and experimenting with new marketing strategies to seize opportunities in the market.

As a renowned base for hairy crab breeding, Huiping town boasts over 1,000 hectares of crab ponds. Since the beginning of this year, the daily average number of villagers participating in young crab sales, especially in the sorting of male and female crabs, has exceeded 4,000.

"One major reason for this trend is the increasing number of breeders who are expanding the market through selling male and female crabs separately or in proportion," explained Shi Jiangping, deputy head of Huiping. Last year, less than 3 percent of crabs were sold in this way, but this year that figure has surged to over 12 percent. The average price of larger-sized female crabs has reached 106 yuan ($14.73) per kilogram, doubling the price of mixed male and female crabs.

Wang Xiaojun, deputy director of the Qidong agriculture and rural affairs bureau, predicts that as the domestic market for crabs becomes increasingly tailored to individual preferences, the outlook for this new marketing strategy is promising.