By Nur Fatin Mohmad Kadenen
JOHOR BAHRU, April 24 (Bernama) -- The Johor State Fishermen's Association (JOSFA) plans to expand its large-scale white prawn farming project in tanks to meet growing local demand.
JOSFA chairman Datuk Mohamad Dolmat said the effort is a follow-up to the success of the white prawn farming project that began in September last year on a 1.62-hectare site in Kampung Sungai Danga, Johor Bahru.
He said that at the initial stage of implementation, there were concerns about market reception, but the situation changed when demand exceeded available supply.
"At first, we were a bit hesitant because we were worried there would be no buyers, but now the supply is insufficient to meet the demand," he told Bernama recently.
Mohamad said the project, which operates on land owned by JOSFA, currently has nine rearing tanks and two water treatment tanks.
With a harvest cycle every four months, the project is capable of producing about three harvest cycles a year, supporting efforts to strengthen national food security and boost the local economy.
According to him, the project has so far successfully produced its first harvest of 22 tonnes earlier this year, which was distributed to wholesalers and also sold through MADANI Sales around Johor and in Putrajaya.
However, he said that in Johor alone, the daily demand per wholesaler can reach between 500 kilogrammes and one tonne of shrimp, highlighting strong market potential for the local aquaculture industry.
In this regard, JOSFA is planning to expand operations by applying for a lease of state government land through J-Biotech, covering approximately 20.24 hectares in Sedili, Kota Tinggi.
He said the expansion has the potential to increase production capacity by an estimated 100 tanks, thereby allowing for a monthly output of over 10 tonnes of shrimp from one to five tanks.
Mohamad said JOSFA is also open to collaborating with the state government if it is willing to provide a site or land lease near water sources to further expand the project.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said the shrimp farming project in tanks was undertaken using their own financial resources, and is equipped with various facilities, including an aeration system using blowers to generate oxygen in the tanks.
He said that the shrimp farming project in tanks also facilitates more efficient water quality control compared with pond farming.
"Although the cost is slightly higher compared to pond farming, in terms of management, it is more organised and systematic," he said.
Mohamad also said that other aspects, including the need for calcium and magnesium, must be monitored to ensure the shrimp's growth remains optimal.
The Johor State Committee on Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development chairman, Datuk Zahari Sarip, was reported to have said that the project implemented by JOSFA in Kampung Sungai Danga is capable of strengthening the state's aquaculture industry and has strong development potential, in line with the high demand for local white prawn.
He added that the project is also expected to help the state government's target of achieving aquaculture production growth of 38,000 to 40,000 tonnes per year by 2027.
-- BERNAMA
