PEKAN, Aug 28 (Bernama) — The National Fishermen’s Association (NEKMAT) has expanded its aquaculture project in Badong here, to include white shrimp farming this year, in a move to further strengthen the country’s aquaculture industry.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the initiative, carried out in collaboration with the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) with an investment of RM3 million, will also create job opportunities for the local community.
“We hope local residents will be given priority to work here, while also gaining skills and exposure in aquaculture.
“The project is expected to deliver returns on investment within five years, but we hope this can be achieved sooner,” he told reporters during a working visit to the first harvest of NEKMAT’s shrimp farming project in Badong.
Mohamad said as some coastal areas have been converted for other developments, aquaculture and inland farming must be further strengthened.
He noted that Malaysia’s fish self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) has now exceeded 90 per cent, largely supported by aquaculture.
“However, this needs to be expanded further as fish catches along the west coast are declining due to land reclamation and other development projects.
“We will prioritise aquaculture in areas where fishermen face difficulties going to sea, such as Perlis, Penang, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan. While they continue fishing, we also want to encourage them to take part in aquaculture programmes,” he said.
Meanwhile, NEKMAT general manager Azrin Shah Ismail said the Badong project, which previously focused on grouper farming, was expanded in May to include white shrimp farming in four ponds.
He said the initiative has already produced 18 tonnes of white shrimp, sold to wholesalers and local residents at between RM12 and RM28 per kilogramme.
Azrin added that NEKMAT plans to increase production by adding 10 more ponds, targeting an output of 120,000 kilogrammes a year worth about RM3 million in sales.
A direct-from-farm sale was also held during the programme, offering grouper and white shrimp at RM15 per kilogramme.
— BERNAMA
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