October 6, 2007

Iloilo milkfish producers target EU exports

Milkfish producers from the province of Iloilo in the Philippines are looking to export more organically grown milkfish to the European Union by next year.

Iloilo Fish Producers Association Inc president Antonio Paulino U Buyco said the group has already received technical assistance from the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) to find ways to penetrate the potentially lucrative niche market. He added that Iloilo farmers prefer to sell their produce abroad because of oversupply, forcing them to sell at a loss. 

Buyco said that organically grown milkfish feed on algae and plankton and no artificial feeds were given.

GTZ project manager Anja Gomm said there was great potential in organic milkfish exports to the EU, because Europeans are looking for more healthy food. She added that value-added products such as marinated and filleted milkfish are also expected to do well in the mainstream EU market.

Buyco said producers need to pass the strict accreditation protocols of the European Commission to boost their chances of accessing other markets such as the Middle East and Japan. Iloilo milkfish farmers are now lining-up their products in the EU-accredited processing facility of Sta. Cruz Foods in General Santos City.