Taiwanese to invest in the growing of white shrimps in RP

By Max V. de Leon
Reporter

WITH the government’s decision to lift the ban on the propagation of Pacific white shrimp, or Penaeus vannamei, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) in Taiwan is now expecting a throng of Taiwanese businessmen to invest in the growing of the low-cost shrimp variety in the Philippines.

Romulo Manlapig, Meco deputy representative, said his office has asked several Taiwanese groups to invest in the culturing of vannamei in the Philippines and found out that they, too, are keenly awaiting the lifting of the ban on vannamei so they can come in.

“The Taiwanese are experienced in the growing of vannamei so it would be easy for them to gear up in the Philippines,” Manlapig said.

Last week, the Department of Agriculture (DA) allowed anew the production of the white shrimp variety in the country after the problem on the presence of pathogens has been solved.

Manlapig said the entry of Taiwanese businessmen would help the country primarily in increasing the supply of affordable shrimp in the domestic market.

“Vannamei is 50-percent cheaper than the other varieties so more households can buy,” he said.

Aside from being cheap, Manlapig said vannamei grows in a shorter cycle and are usually prolific in multiplying.

This, he said, makes the economics of the business compelling since more will be produced at lower cost and shorter period.

Aside from vannamei, Manlapig said the Taiwanese are interested in other prospects in aquaculture, including the setting of fish cages in Pangasinan.

He said the Taiwanese are now looking at other countries to bring their technology in aquaculture since the waters in Taiwan are becoming polluted already.

The Philippines and Taiwan are pursuing cooperation projects in agriculture and fishery based on a memorandum of understanding in these fields forged in 2005.

Manlapig said the Philippines would surely benefit from Taiwan’s biotechnology, which is already in the advanced state, through the numerous technical cooperation and training projects.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/01162007/economy01.html