August 11, 2008

 

Malaysian aqua project seeks US$15 million from government 

 
 

Malaysia's Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry will hold a discussion with affected parties in the Sungai Como fish breeding project in Tasik Kenyir in an effort to seek a RM50 million allocation for it.

 

Tasik Kenyir is located in Malaysia's eastern state of Terengganu, where most of its aquacultural activities have been based.

 

Its minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the move to seek funding was to ensure that the project would be a success and no longer saddled with financial problems.

 

Mustapa said he had asked the Terengganu Agrotech Development Corporation Sdn Bhd to identify the financial problems encountered by the parties involved in the project.

 

The project was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last year with the aim of generating income for fishermen, graduates and the lower income.

 

So far, the Terengganu State Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and Temanse Sdn Bhd, a private company, have spent RM5 million (US$1.5 million) for the project.

 

Mustapa said the first phase of the project involved making 200 fish cages with the harvest meant for local and foreign market.

 

He said 5,841kg of freshwater fish were harvested last year and 11,707kg so far this year.

 

He said the objective of the project was to have 6,000 fish cages producing 9,000 tonnes of fish by 2010.

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