December 16, 2003

 

 

Pakistan to Hire Iran Experts to Boost Shrimp Farming

 

Pakistan hope to hire experts from Iran to develop shrimp farming in the country due to importers' preference of aquaculture products rather than marine.

 

A recent meeting between high-ups of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) and seafood exporters reached the decision to kick-start the project in early 2004, informed the meeting attendants.

 

"We informed the secretary MINFAL about the growing number of importers switching over to aqua-culture products," said an exporter.

 

"The government realising the sensitivity has decided to hire experts from Iran as it has developed so much expertise in the last few years in the field," he added.

 

Country's seafood exporters have been experiencing rejection of shrimp orders from their seasoned buyers as they prefer aquaculture products.

 

Sensing the competition ahead, exporters approached the government to design a comprehensive plan for shrimp farming. The MINFAL said the decision had been made to develop aquaculture in the country and it would soon launch the project.

 

"We are in touch with several experts of Iran. I hope we would soon hire few of them and launch the project," said an official in the ministry.

 

Experts will decide on the total cost of the project after complete study. "It is too early to give figures. It depends on what the experts suggest," he replied when asked about the estimated cost.

 

Modern shrimp farming, the production of marine shrimp in ponds, raceways and tanks, started in early 1970s, and today, over 50 countries have shrimp farms.

 

India, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and Myanmar (Burma) have shrimp farms, and there are shrimp farms throughout Central and South America.

 

The shrimp importing nations - US, Western Europe and Japan - specialise in high-tech intensive shrimp farming, but their production has been insignificant. Many countries in the Middle East have shrimp farms, with Iran apparently the leading aqua-cultured shrimps producer in the region.

 

Exporters say the shrimp farming has become need of the hour hoping it would enhance products quality and ultimately the exports as well.

 

"Pakistan having great potential in shrimp farming, could not start it on commercial basis till today," said Sardar Hanif Khan, President Pakistan Seafood Industries Association.

 

However, he looked optimistic as he said: "I hope the government will give serious thought to this need as we have detailed interactions over this issue."

 

Khan claimed through shrimp farming and developed aquaculture country seafood export could touch over US$150 million mark, but said private sector could do nothing without government support.

 

"Shrimp farming and aqua-culture are the things which no one can set up individually. It needs real government support. Countries, having expertise in the field, have cushion of their authorities," he added.

 

Pakistan exported seafood worth over US$130 million during the last fiscal while the government has set US$150 million for the current year.

 

During 2002-03 Belgium was the biggest fish buyer from Pakistan where about US$20 million of fish was exported. China, Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai, Malaysia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Spain, Italy, Bahrain, Greece, Indonesia, Jordan, the Philippines, UK, South Korea, US, Netherlands, Thailand, France, Canada and Singapore were some of the regular markets for Pakistani fish and shrimp.

 

According to official figures Pakistan territorial waters produce 670,000 tons of seafood a year. Sindh's shares 66% of the total production. In value terms share of Sindh in Pakistan's fish and shrimp export is 83%.