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AGRIBUSINESS
WALAILAK KEERATIPIPATPONG
Black tiger prawns offer higher returns. |
Southern shrimp raisers have called on the government to revive black-tiger shrimp farming, saying the industry would offer more sustainable income than vannamei or white shrimp.
Black-tiger shrimp are larger and can grow to as large as five to seven per kilogramme, compared to 40 for big white shrimp, according to Wanchai Phanatanate, chairman of the Phuket Shrimp Raisers Co-Operatives Ltd.
Though the yield of black-tiger shrimp (penaeus monodon) is around 500 to 600 kilogrammes per rai, far smaller than four tonnes of vannamei, market prices have been strong over the past few years.
The prices of white shrimp, meanwhile, have nosedived as a result of oversupply, he said.
Thailand's success in raising white shrimp in the past five years has led to oversupply, especially this year, when shrimp output is expected to exceed 520,000 tonnes, almost triple the 200,000 tonnes the country produced in 2002.
Swelling supply has changed the structure of Thailand's shrimp exports critically. Five years ago, the black-tiger species dominated shrimp export volume, at more than 85% of the total 200,000 tonnes shipped. In 2007, the volume dropped to 23,934 tonnes, accounting for only 6.7% of the total exports of 356,080 tonnes, with white shrimp making up the balance.
Mr Wanchai said the substantial supply had caused shrimp prices to plummet for years and forced small raisers and hatcheries out of business as their earnings could no longer cover the rising production costs.
In Phuket alone, the number of hatcheries has declined significantly, with only about 100 large operations in business.
''Many farmers have to go abroad and work for hatcheries in Bangladesh, which has shifted its focus to black-tiger shrimp farming,'' he said.
His co-operative, which groups 77 members in Phuket, is ready to make the switch as demand for premium-grade shrimp on the island remains strong.
''Daily shrimp consumption in the province is about 10 tonnes and I think tourists could afford the black-tiger shrimp, which are more tasty and meaty,'' he said.
''We also want clearer policy and more support from the government to revive the black-tiger shrimp industry. If it is necessary, the government might apply zoning to divide areas for the cultivation of white and black-tiger shrimp.''
Mr Wanchai blamed shrimp-feed producers for persuading so many farmers to raise the white shrimp, which consume as much feed as the black-tiger species, especially during the first two months in hatcheries.
Food processors and exporters also preferred white shrimp due to their lower costs, Mr Wanchai added.
Poj Aramwattananont, president of the Thai Frozen Foods Association, said that exporters were ready to ship more black tiger shrimp if demand warranted it.
He believed the industry would pick up soon, as the Fisheries Department is now working out a plan to balance the production of the two types of shrimp, with the goal of raising the production of black-tiger shrimp to 30% of total production in the next five years.
Narumek Sivaipramh, sales official of Grobest Group, the country's leading shrimp hatchery group, said the black-tiger shrimp had become less popular among raisers because of its low survival rate and requirement of low population.
For example, it is practical to raise 120,000 to 200,000 white shrimp on one rai but one can keep only 80,000 black-tiger shrimp in the same space.
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