January 18, 2006
Thailand to expand shrimp farming
Plans are afoot to expand shrimp farming area in Roi Et, a province in north-east Thailand. Shrimp farmers are facing problems such as lack of capital and high cost of production said agriculture minister Khunying Sudarat Keyurapan.
Low interest loans will be secured from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives for farmers, the minister said. A factory to produce shrimp food will be built in the province to lower the cost of feed to farmers.
The ministry aims to expand the areas for shrimp farming in the province from 188 acres to 385 acres, adding that shrimp products are expected to increase from 114 tonnes to 234 tonnes a year.