May 3, 2016
Thailand's private sector, government cooperate to expand local aquaculture
Thailand's private sector and government agencies recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in support of the government's public-private collaboration policy on mobilising modern agricultural development in aquaculture, Thai Union said.
Through this initiative, the private sector will provide knowledge on cultivation, marketing and distribution to support aquaculture farmers in shrimp and fish productions.
Thiraphong Chansiri, president and CEO of Thai Union Group PCL, and chairman of the Aquatic Animal Group (Modern Agricultural Development Working Group) commented: "This policy is one where the farmers are genuine benefactors. Meanwhile, the business sector is the mechanism which will connect the government and people. In this way, the private sector is contributing to the development of the aquatic animal group and hopes to see an efficient and effective effort made by all concerned parties to help fish and shrimp farmers boost their production and profit."
The project will be implemented into two phases.
First, the technology transfer on hatchery and marketing promotion will last until the end of this year. The second phase will see the establishment of a breeding development center which will become an aquaculture development hub. This aims to increase the value and competitiveness of Thai aquatic animals and involves further collaboration with the Department of Fisheries with regards to location and budgeting.
The private sector in this working group comprises of aquatic animal processing companies which will provide aquaculture farmers with technology transfer, knowledge, marketing insight, as well as distribution channel support.
Meanwhile, the public sector will be responsible for promoting the formation of cooperatives to improve hatchery and production efficiency and for arranging business matching between cooperatives and aquatic animal companies.
The collaboration is focused on increasing income and improving farmers' quality of life, while is also working to boost aquaculture capacity and quality, positively benefiting farmers nationwide.
The Aquatic Animal Working Group is made up of government sector agencies including Cooperative Promotion Department, Department of Fisheries, Fish Marketing Organization and the Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives of Thailand. It also comprises the private sector: Thai Union Group PCL, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thai Frozen Foods Association, Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL and Wales& Co. Universe Limited.
A total of 12 cooperatives signed the MoU including:
-Chantha Buri Shrimp Farmers Cooperative
-Shrimp Cooperative of Trat Limited
-Sustainable Shrimp Cooperative of Trat
-Pak Panang River Basin Shrimp Farmers Cooperative Limited, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
-Nakhon Pathom Shrimp Farmers Cooperative Limited
-Ban Sang Agriculture Cooperative Limited, Prachin Buri Province
-Nikom Ban Sang Pattana Cooperative Limited, Prachin Buri Province
-Paedriew Agriculture Cooperative, Chachoengsao Province
-Trang Aquaculture Cooperative
-Kung Kraben Fisheries Cooperative, Chantha Buri province
-Chon Buri Aqualculture Cooperative
-Phan Fisheries Cooperative, Chiang Rai province.
This collaboration would serve as a crucial start in supporting the government's goal of driving grassroots economic development in Thailand.
- Thai Union