Shrimpers in Thailand plan greener future

Walailak Keeratipipatpong, Bangkok Post 29 Sep 08;

Thailand should run more environmentally friendly shrimp farms and produce higher quality shrimp under a new development roadmap for the industry.

The 2009-11 strategic plan is aimed at encouraging farmers to grow at least 5,000 rai of mangroves per year and to use seaweed in shrimp ponds to absorb waste and residue.

Thanwa Jitsanguan, a vice-president for special projects at Kasetsart University, said the goal was to combine sustainable industrial development with environmental protection.

"Sticking to a safe environment concept is good for farmers themselves," he said.

Farmers typically use shells to clean shrimp ponds, but seaweed could earn more income. Enlarging mangrove plantations would help address the industry's negative image as having destroyed mangroves over the past two decades.

Niwat Suteemechaikul, the director-general of the Fisheries Department, said more hygienic production and a "green" concept would be strong points the industry could use to promote its products abroad, given growing concern about food safety.

He also promotes export diversification to reduce business risk. "In fact, we want to reduce dependence on the US market and cut the share of Thai shrimp going to the US to less than 50%."

Even with the slowing economy, US buyers are expected to take most of the country's estimated 370,000 tonnes of shrimp exports this year.

Under the second roadmap, Thailand plans to produce about 500,000 tonnes of shrimp per year and to expand export markets. The new export structure could be closer to 40% to the US, 20% to Japan and 17% to Europe.

In 2007 the US took 52.1% of Thailand's total shipments of 349,418 tonnes of shrimp products, Japan 18.1% and the EU 9.54%. Russia, the Middle East, China and Asia are expected to play a greater role in the future.

In addition, the industry could explore niche markets and move up the value chain, producing organic shrimp, "bio-secure" products and shrimp-related food such as dumplings.

Mr Niwat _ known as "Mr Shrimp" in the industry for his work to promote the sector _ said the country should launch marketing campaigns in markets such as Britain, Germany, South Korea, Japan and other Asian countries.

He said the first roadmap, launched during the Thaksin Shinawatra government, would continue its programmes to encourage farmers to export chilled shrimp directly to end-users such as restaurants and hotels in Asia, many just a two- or three-hour flight away.

"Under this strategy, customers will receive fresh products while farmers bypass middlemen and gain greater income," Mr Niwat said, adding that such food service exports could reach 30,000 tonnes a year.

But he said that one missed target has been the goal to raise value-added products to 65% of exports, although improvements have been made.

This year, processed shrimp shipments are expected to account for 54.5% of total exports, with the rest being raw -- a modest increase from the 50.5:49.5 breakdown seen in 2006 when the first plan was adopted.