The Star 31 Mar 10;
A NEW aquaculture programme that focuses on prawn farming has been introduced in a bid to eradicate poverty in Selinsing, a small town in northern Perak.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said about 1,000 participants would be selected to take part in the programme whereby they would be taught modern farming techniques.
He said Hannan Corporation Sdn Bhd, a local subsidiary of Japanese company Misaki Suisan Co Ltd, had entered into an agreement with the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) to provide the expertise and set up the Selinsing Aquaculture Complex.
Acting as programme operator, Hannan Corporation will manage the ponds besides supplying prawn fry and feed to the programme participants.
Under a buy-back policy, participants, who will each get five ponds, are assured of a guaranteed market for their harvests.
“It is not merely profit-oriented. The main aim is to eradicate poverty among the people in the area by creating about 1,000 job opportunities for fishermen, unemployed graduates and other people,” Dr Zambry told reporters after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Hannan Corporation and NCIA on Monday.
Dr Zambry noted that the complex would have 800 ponds measuring 5,000sqm each, spreading over 44.5ha in Kalumpang and Pulau Gulu.
It is estimated that 14,400 metric tonnes of prawns worth RM148mil would be harvested annually when the programme kicks off by the end of this year.
“We are awaiting the outcome of the Environmental Impact Assessment report on the programme.
“If the Department of Environment deems it unsuitable to carry out the programme at the proposed site, then we will move it elsewhere as we do not want any negative impact on the environment,” he said.
On a related matter, Dr Zambry said the state government was in the final stages of drawing up a clear policy on illegal prawn-farming activities in the state.
“Although the aquaculture industry is an important one for the state, we are also concerned about the negative impact it may have on the environment,” he said.
