Monday, September 29, 2008 Pengasius eyed for export By Carlo P. Mallo
THE soaring prices of basically everything from supermarkets to good old wet markets do not seem to compliment the growing sophisticated palate of Filipinos, including that of Dabawenyos.
Food prices seemed to be inching its way north every week, while people continue to look for leaner cuts of meat, whiter fish flesh, and chickens with less body fat. That is where Vitarich Corporation steps in.
Vitarich, a feed and livestock producer, introduces a new variety of fish that can very well compete with the quality of the much sought yet highly priced groupers.
The Pangasius (Pangasius hypophthalmus), a fresh water fish, though not exactly a new breed, has not been propagated very well here in the country. Vietnam is considered to be the world's leader in the exporting of Pangasius to Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
In an interview with Sun.Star Davao, Imee Chun, assistant national marketing manager of Vitarich Corp., said that they are now pushing for the local production of Pangasius due to its highly valued meat.
"It has a big potential for the export industry," Chun said.
"We are now producing fingerlings and make it available locally. They can now source it here (in Davao)," Chun said.
Otherwise known as the cream dory, the pinkish white flesh of the Pangasius is a good alternative to the groupers without sacrificing the taste and meat quality.
"You will never know the difference," Chun said of Pangasius, which is often sold in fillet cuts.
Apart from Davao City, Vitarich Corporation is also aggressively marketing the propagation of Pangasius in the cities of General Santos and Cagayan de Oro in a bid to boost fish production in Mindanao.
"Eventually, Mindanao will be the main source of fillet products," Chun said.
Outside Mindanao, the propagation of Pangasius is also being pushed in Iloilo, Cebu, Bacolod, Pampanga, and Taal.
Still, Mindanao is the most ideal area to grow Pangasius due to the absence of typhoons and a very ideal climate.
Vitarich Corporation is offering a business venture, either a contract growing agreement or a contract to buy.
"We will provide everything from the fingerlings, to the feeds in a contract growing agreement, while in a contract to buy we will purchase the fish from the grower after six months," Chun said.
Vitarich Corporation has also launched one of their new products, the Vitasius Pangasius Feeds, which has been specifically formulated for the Pangasius fish to help increase its growth potential for fast turnaround of harvest and increase immune system of the fish to prevent diseases.
The company together with its Research and Nutrition team carefully formulated the nutritional content of the feeds to adapt to the body of the Pangasius.
"It will help promote faster growth and a shorter culture period," Chun said.
On the average, the Pangasius takes only six months to propagate before it reaches its ideal average weight.
"We have consultants coming in from Singapore and Taiwan who help us in the culture of Pangasius," Chun added.
To promote the production of Pangasius in Mindanao, Chun said that the company is also eyeing the procurement of a blast freezer facility that will be used in the processing of the fillet cuts of the Pangasius, which is the primary export product.
