Cargill Builds Shrimp Hatchery in Malaysia

Cargill, a U.S.-based food and agriculture producer, it is building a pathogen-free shrimp hatchery in the Malaysian state of Pahang that should begin operation by the end of this year.

Paul Conway, Cargill's Asia Pacific regional director, says that the $1.5 million hatchery would be the first for the company, adding that Malaysia has tremendous potential for investment, particularly in agriculture and aquaculture.

Desmond Tham, Cargill's feed managing director, reports that the hatchery would supply specific pathogenfree (SPF) shrimp breeds to local farms in an effort to help shrimpers earn steadier income from safer breeds. In addition to the shrimp hatchery, Cargill also plans to expand to cocoa and specialty fat industries in the near future, says Tham.

Malaysia's Department of Fisheries has set a goal to increase its shrimp production to 180,000 metric tons by 2010. To reach this goal, Malaysia needs to fulfill demand for 100,000 broodstock and 10 billion postlarvae every year. Malaysian shrimpers are highly dependent on non-pathogen-free larvae, which have only a 50 percent survival rate and high infection risk.

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