Shrimp Output Planned At 45,000 Tons | ||
Shrimp Output Planned At 45,000 Tons Shrimp production, as an economic crop, should rise to 45,000 tons by the end of Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2010-15), said an official at Iranian Fisheries Organization. Omid-Reza Asghari told IRNA that shrimp farming is economically viable. Given the debt of shrimp farmers during last Iranian year (ended March 19), he said, over 8,000 tons of quality shrimp were produced across the country during the period. Once the government provides the support package for shrimp farmers, a great leap forward will occur in shrimp industry, he mentioned, predicting that the output will reach 15,000 tons this year (to end March 2013). Highlighting that shrimp is an export commodity, he said Iran should compete with its rivals in the production and sale of this crop. Asghari recalled that last year, sufficient amount of shrimp was produced. But, it is not enough for exports, he said, adding quality and competitive products should be produced through planning and allocation of required credit. He put the average shrimp production around 3 tons per hectare during last year. It is a great success, he added. Currently, national and provincial credits are spent for implementing infrastructural projects such as amending the structures of water supply canals, constructing roads and conducting research projects, he pointed out. He explained that pilot study to implement the project of model shrimp farms is being carried out in several provinces with state credits and contribution of the private sector. If the research results positively, the shrimp farmers will use these experiences and implement them in their own farms, he said. Last year, close to five trillion rials ($500 million) was spent to implement model farms for breeding shrimp and aquatics, he elaborated. He hoped that more budgets will be allocated to shrimp industry and the government will provide more support for shrimp farmers. In March, a report released by IRNA said more than 7,500 tons of cultured shrimps were caught in the year March 19 which was designated as the “Year of Economic Jihad” by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. It added the figure is expected to hit 48,000 tons by the end of the Fifth Plan. Iran Fishery Organization is striving to reduce the price of shrimps in the market to prepare the ground for the export of aquatic products. Some 1.44 trillion rials ($144 million) in loans have been provided from the National Development Fund to those involved in the fishery activities. More than $130 million worth of shrimps were exported from the country during the period and the figure is expected to rise to $500 million by the end of the Fifth Plan, it said. According to the report, about 168 decorative fish, valued at $224,000, were exported from Markazi province during the period. | ||
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