The first of 11 planned shrimp farms in Pakistan have begun construction at Jiwani, Balochistan.

 

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has initiated a seven-year aquaculture and shrimp farming project, spanning from 2007 to 2013, at a cost of PKR1.99 billion (US$23.56 million).

 

The project aims to build three shrimp farms at Sindh coast and another eight at Balochistan coast, with each farm occupying 10 hectares of land.

 

Mohammad Moazzam Khan, Chief Executive Fisheries Development Board and Managing Director Marine Fisheries Department, said land has been identified for eight farms, and land identification takes time as it is not an easy process. He hopes to make all 11 farms functional by 2013.

 

The provincial government will provide land for the establishment of these model-demonstration shrimp farms.

 

Upon completion of the project, the farms will be handed over to the provinces, farmers, partners and potential stakeholders. The farms will serve as centres for technical training to potential shrimp/fish farmers in the coastal belt.

 

The government also plans to build three hatcheries at a cost of PKR35 million (US$414,500), and develop a PKR19 million (US$225,000) cage culture.

 

One such model cage farm has been established at Keenjhar lake, where fish seed was stocked recently, said Khan.

 

About PKR500 million (US$6 million) have also been earmarked as support to private sector entrepreneurs in the field of cage farming, shrimp farming, trout farming and to nursery units for support of cage farming.

 

The provincial governments will provide land on lease to interested shrimp farmers, and the project will provide the financial incentive to them.

 

The project also included the establishment of six state-of-the-art fish markets to improve the quality of fish and reduce post harvest loses. Total production from inland resources in Pakistan is about 200,000 tonnes annually.

 

Improper transportation and infrastructure have caused 25-30% of product waste. Nearly all fish markets except in Karachi are unregulated, and highly unhygienic conditions prevail in these markets.

 

Those losses can be avoided through the establishment of modern markets equipped with proper storage, transportation and handling equipment, said Khan.