March 27, 2008

 

Organic shrimp certification in Thailand to boost exports

 

 

Thailand officially launched its first organic shrimp certification body to accredit organic farm products for export, geared to push the country to become one of the world's leading producer and exporter of premium-grade shrimp.

 

The Organic Agricultural and Farm Products Certification Office was opened on Tuesday at the Fisheries Department, operating under the criteria outlined by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).

 

Currently, Thailand ranks as the world's largest shrimp exporter, with a target to export 340,000 tonnes of shrimp this year.

 

However, the volume of organic shipments remains inadequate to serve the rising demand of the developed world, particularly the EU countries, where organic food grows about 10-20 percent a year.

 

Somying Piumsomboon, director-general of the Fisheries Department, said to increase the volume, Vietnam the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), teamed up to promote organic prawn farming to meet international standards while preserving the environment.

 

Sureerath Farm in Chanthaburi was chosen to be the pilot area of the project and has reaped success by producing organic black tiger prawns for export to Switzerland and Germany that could fetch prices that were about 30 percent higher than regular shrimp.

 

The farm's success prompted the fisheries department and the GTZ to encourage more farmers to apply organic methods.

 

Presently, five groups are ready to produce a combined 1,073 tonnes of shrimp per year.

 

The pioneering groups include Eastern Organic Prawn Alliance in Chanthaburi, Kungkrabaen Bay Royal Development Study Center in Chanthaburi, Laemfapha Shrimp Aquaculture Community Enterprise Group in Samut Prakan, Black Tiger Trang Group Farm in Trang, and Dumrong Farm in Songkhla.

 

The first two groups already received organic certifications from the department and would be subject to an annual review to maintain the standards.

 

Prayoon Hongrat, president of Sureerath Farm and chief of the Eastern Organic Prawn Alliance, said raising premium-grade shrimp would not only catapult Thailand shrimp ahead of the competition but also follow the global trend where chemical-free products are increasingly popular.

 

Sureerath farm is Thailand's first organic shrimp farm to receive the Naturland certificate, which is widely known and accepted in European countries.

 

Prayoon pointed that higher production costs and lengthy farming processes are the major hindrances for farmers who want to raise organic shrimp.

 

Organic shrimp farming has to adhere to the principles of organic agriculture, which prioritises health, ecology and good management.

 

The fertilisers and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not allowed in this type of production.

 

Furthermore, the entire production process must be traceable.

 

Prayoon added that the requirements dictate a lengthy breeding season, extending up to six or seven months each, compared to three to four months for regular production.

 

However, the higher prices are seen to draw farmers towards organic black tiger shrimp production.