Negros Occidental remains major player of growing PH shrimp industry

BACOLOD. Senator Cynthia Villar (third from left) with Agriculture Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona (second from right), Negros Occidental Second District Representative Rafael Cueva (fifth from right) and officials of the 12th Philippine National Shrimp Congress led by chairman Constantine Tanchan (left) during the opening rites at SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City Wednesday, November 20, 2019. (Erwin P. Nicavera)
BACOLOD. Senator Cynthia Villar (third from left) with Agriculture Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona (second from right), Negros Occidental Second District Representative Rafael Cueva (fifth from right) and officials of the 12th Philippine National Shrimp Congress led by chairman Constantine Tanchan (left) during the opening rites at SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City Wednesday, November 20, 2019. (Erwin P. Nicavera)

WITH at least 500 hectares of area dedicated to shrimp production, Negros Occidental remains one of the major players of the growing shrimp industry in the country.

Data presented at the press conference on the just opened three-day 12th Philippine National Shrimp Congress at SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City Wednesday, November 20, showed that the province was able to produce 251 metric tons of shrimp from 1996 to 2018.

Remia Aparri, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Western Visayas, said Negros Occidental has contributed the highest percentage of production in the region in the last two decades.

It helped place Western Visayas as the third highest producer of shrimp in the country next to General Santos and Region 4B, she added.

For the entire Western Visayas, however, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the region's average production was about 2,000 metric tons (MT) as of last year.

When it comes to trend, Aparri reported that it is decreasing. It peaked in 2013 at 4,596 MT, then dropped to 1,009 MT in 2018.

"The drop in production was caused by the market demand of the importing countries especially US and Japan," the regional director said, adding that "also, we were tagged with yellow card by the European Union which is one exporting country for shrimp."

Tremendous growth

Despite the decreasing trend in the region's shrimp production as reflected by the data, which has yet to be reconciled with those of other government agencies, the stakeholders remain optimistic as they noted a tremendous industry growth in the past few years.

Congress chair Constantine Tanchan, also of the Philippine Shrimp Industry Inc. (Philshrimp), said farms have been expanding plus the new players especially in Mindanao.

Tanchan said they are expecting a productive year for the Philippine shrimp industry next year.

"We hope that with the government support and good government policies, we can be part of the top 10 producers in the world in the next three years," he added.

For his part, Agriculture Undersecretary and BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona, who was also at the press conference, said shrimp is one of the five priority commodities that the agency is concentrating.

Gongona said shrimp is one of the major fishery exports in 2018, recording a total export of more than 7,000 MT amounting to P2.43 billion.

On an average, the country's shrimp and prawn production is 60,000 MT sharing a 2.65 percent in the total aquaculture production.

"I am assured of the potential of the shrimp industry to reach new heights while staying true to commitment of sustainable fisheries industry with multiple harvest and increase income for prosperous fisherfolk," he added.

Measures

Shrimp diseases mainly white spot along with calamities remain a challenge for the industry thus, stakeholders are pushing for measures seen to strengthen it.

They see the need to consolidate small and medium farms, it is urgent right now so they can play a major role in the industry.

Gongona said they are looking at how to lessen the overhead cost of feeds, which is 70 to 80 percent.

If it can be lessened with the new formula and protocol by at least 50 percent, it will result in happy farmers and consumers and industry will really grow up, he said.

Gongona said the industry is targeting more than two percent increase at the end of 2019 in the fishery growth.

"Right now, after eight years of being negative, at the end of 2018 we had a positive 1.04 growth rate and we would like to increase that more," he added.

In terms of government policies, stakeholders want actions on fishpond lease agreements.

Tanchan said, normally, after it expires, the government has no plan to renew so no one will invest in fishponds anymore if the former will just take it back after the spending hundreds of millions of pesos in production.

Other policies include stricter regulation of distance between farms, which is vital in preventing the spread of diseases resulting in adverse effects to production.

Strong partnerships

Themed "Strengthening Synergies Towards a Progressive Shrimp Industry," the congress is hoped to strengthen the public and private sector partnerships that will further boost the local shrimp industry.

In partnership with the BFAR, the industry is upbeat to achieve its short, medium to long term goals.

"We cannot be successful if we will be alone, we will be successful if all the sectors are helping us," Philshrimp president Roberto Gatuslao said.

Meanwhile, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food chair Senator Cynthia Villar, who was guest of honor, underscored that the congress' theme encompasses the strategies that the industry must embrace to be more competitive globally.

That is by enhancing synergies between and among industry players, as well as consumers, policy-makers, experts, partners and even competitors, Villar said in her speech.

"Your inputs are very important because you are the ones out there who are directly engaged and involved," she said, adding that "so help us make things better, implement timely policies, responsive legislation and realistic plans."

"Let us strengthen our collaboration," the senator also said.

Meanwhile, also present at the opening rites were Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Second District Representative Rafael Cueva, who is the House chair of committee on aquaculture and fisheries resources.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph