Delicious Dried Creatures Providing Income in Nakornpranom

Barn Tarn is the only village in Nakornpranom that is selling dried worms, lizards and leeches for eating. The people in Barn Tarn have been doing so for over 20 years both domestically and internationally. This unique industry has given the people in Barn Tarn a continuous income even when everything else is not doing so well.

This one of a kind business generates about 10 million baht per month for the village. 

One of the families in Barn Tarn who has been selling the dried worms, lizards and leeches said, “We have been doing this for over 20 years and it has generated a continuous income for us even when the economy was bad and even during the time of the political crisis. At the moment we are selling a dried lizard at about 10-25 baht. We go hunt for them, kill them and dry them according to the standard process. We would then package them and ship them off to many countries such as China and Taiwan.”

Dried worms, lizards and leeches are used in cooking as well as medicine. They are believed to be a good energy booster for the body. Stores in China and Taiwan sell the products for about 30 baht depending on the size of the animal.

Every month, there are over 100,000 dried worms, lizards and leeches exported which generates about 5,000-10,000 baht income for each family in Barn Tarn.

Another seller added, “We don’t have to worry about lizards becoming extinct. From October to January, lizards will mate and reproduce. During the four month period lizards can produce thousands of new baby lizards. During the rainy season we dry the leeches. As for the worms, we usually find them around homes.”

If you want to help support these people, the next time you visit a local market you should buy yourself some dried worms, lizards and leeches.