Govt looks to reel in fish fingerling investors
Govt looks to reel in fish fingerling investors
The government is encouraging foreign companies to invest in breeding fish fingerlings, in a bid to reduce the country's dependence on imports.
According to Livestock and Fisheries Department Director General, Dr Bounkhouang Khambounheuang, Laos is currently able to produce only 300 million fingerlings a year or about 60 percent of what fish farmers require.
About 40 percent of fingerlings are imported from neighbouring countries, especially Thailand and China, he said.
Lao fisheries officials and farmers are able to breed various species of fish, including tilapia, Chinese carp, catfish, common fish (pa khao), pa kinnha, pa savai, and pa ketlap.
“As there are limited fisheries technical staff and funding to build the primary ponds and other necessary infrastructure, we are still struggling to produce sufficient fingerlings to supply fish farmers,” Dr Bounkhouang explained.
“We have limited breeding stations with 60 stations maintained by both the government and the private sector,” he added.
Producing fingerlings is highly technical and specialist work as the primary ponds should be clean, maintained at the right temperature, and free from pests.
Some br eeders have been successful after many years of experience and education with the help of fisheries staff.
Each year, the demand for fish products is increasing and the number of fish farmers is rising as a consequence, but sourcing the fingerlings is still difficult, Dr Bounkhouan g said.
The government will provide good facil ities for foreign investors intending to raise fingerlings in Laos, especially in relation to the importation of equipment and land co ncessions.
Last year, Laos had an estimated 3,000 fishing nets and this year the figure increased to more than 4,000 nets including those belonging to foreign breeders.
The rising price of meat, especially beef, has seen many people begin eating more fish in order to save money.
In response to the increasing demand for fish, many more fish farms have sprung up, meaning that in some areas, especially around Vientiane, there is considerable competition in the market.
Some fish farmers have connections with neighbouring countries, especially Thailand and China, from where they are importing fingerlings, meaning their costs are lower than local farmers.
Some fish farmers in the capital are struggling to compete with illegally operated fish farms owned by foreigners, who can sell their fish at cheaper prices because they have sufficient capital and can buy feed and fingerlings from China very cheaply.
Meanwhile Lao operators have to pay much more to stock their farms as well as pay the high interest demanded by banks if they have borrowed money to set up their farms.
To ensure Lao fish farmers can stay in business, the government, especially the Vientiane authorities, needs to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and enforce the regulations in relation to illegally operated farms.
vientiane times
