Brunei's Prawn Breeders Hurting Due to Imports
TEMBURONG, 27 June 2008,
Wednesday - A Temburong cooperative is adopting environment-friendly
technology in prawn farming, a move seen to make Brunei a pioneer in
Southeast Asia.
The cooperative is backed by the LiveWIRE Brunei Programme, a Brunei
Shell Petroleum sponsored community programme aimed to develop
entrepreneurship among Bruneians.
LiveWIRE Brunei Programme Director Pengiran Redzuan Pengiran Hj Abass
told The Brunei Times Thai firm Asia Star Lab Co Ltd had been tapped to
provide the technology and technical guidance to the cooperative in
farming freshwater giant brown prawns, locally known as "udang galah".
Asia Star Lab General Manager Saidee Homa said the technology avoids any
water treatment and uses a recycling mechanism, making it
environment-friendly compared to traditional aquaculture methods.
The Thai expert said phase one of the project involves the cooperative
developing eight ponds over half an acre, with output capable of
reaching a minimum of 800 kilogrammes up to a metric tonne of prawns per
pond.
He said that in the long run the cooperative is targeting a total of 200
ponds for the project.
Saidee said based on Malaysian prices, one kilo of the prawns at a
standard size of 40 grammes apiece would fetch RM30 ($13.2716).
He said the frys used for the project comply with standards set in
Thailand and must also go through Brunei's Fisheries Department.
Pengiran Redzuan said the Temburong project's success would elevate the
status of the sultanate as a country with the most advanced "environment
friendly" aquaculture technology in Asean.
The project is also seen to boost Brunei's attraction as an eco-tourism
destination, he said.
He said the Temburong cooperative is the "fruit of networking" supported
by LiveWire Brunei Business Network.
He said the cooperative was started with the help of students who wanted
to contribute to Temburong's development. By 2005, interests showed by
youths revealed that Temburong was rich in resources, and would be an
ideal site for "hobby" ponds for tropical fish and freshwater prawns.
By 2006, the project was picked up on a district level comprising of
only four members. It was later registered with the Brunei Industry
Development Authority or BINA.
Now, the cooperative has 176 members.
- Courtesy of
the Brunei Times -
