5 September 2008
A TEAM of experts from Erste Graceland, an agriculture consultancy firm and Nigerian Institute of Oceaneography and Marine Research (NIOMR) who were concerned about the nation's food security threat took a trip to Thailand to understudied shrimp farming were back from the trip recently: Verdict - "Shrimp farming does not really existent in Nigeria," they said with authority.
They also claimed that only capture of fisheries by trawlers and "export a great percentage of their catches. The few that come into the market goes to Chinese restaurants, upper class eateries and also are very expensive. Most Nigerians eat shrimps/ prawns as dried/ground food additive instead of a major component of the presentation, " they submited.
What EG, NIOMR did
The two agencies went to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand and acquired skills in general culture of shrimps, specifically pond construction, brood stock management, hatchery operations, larval rearing, disease control and most essential "environmental" management techniques in shrimp farming.
Post-harvest processing and marketing of shrimp/shrimp products were also undertaken after four weeks of intensive 18 hour/daily practical and theory operations at one of the best fishery colleges in Thailand at the predominantly shrimp farming region of Chumphon, South of Thailand.
As part of their follow-up NIOMR with a mandate of research has already released funds for the setting up of an up-to-date shrimp hatchery at their Wilmot Point head office. Intensive work on the hatchery that wiould be a back-up provider of post-larvae (young shrimps for stocking) has already started. ERSTE GRACELAND with a mission of commercialising research finding must go further if Nigerians are actually to eat shrimps in a few months time. The pathway to actualisation of Nigerians eating shrimps in a few months time according to EG should be as follow:
*ERSTE GRACELAND has developed two models for which Nigerians can to take advantage of and commercialise this research finding or partner with EG to move the project forward. Marine and fresh water cultures are practicable.
"The possibilities exist for all coastal states and other states where the fresh water prawns can also be raised. The market of course is assured as there are local and export market options available," the EG experts maintained.
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