Minister hopes to attract investors; promises help to get them going
TARAT: Current ‘empurau’ fish production cannot even meet local demand but this could change if plans to attract more entrepreneurs into the breeding business over the short term prove successful.Modernisation of Agriculture Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, who was on a working visit to the Indigenous Fisheries Research and Production Centre here yesterday, said while many know that the ‘empurau’ fetches a “gold price”, few realise that it can actually be bred in their backyard.
Jabu, who is deputy chief minister, said: “Today ‘empurau’ sells up to RM400 per kg while a kilogramme dish served at any top-notched restaurant could well go with a RM1,000 tag.
“That should serve as an eye-opener to those with the right attitude to venture into ‘empurau’ rearing. We will help.
“At the moment, we have adopted one farmer from Kota Samarahan and he mostly caters for restaurants. He also exports live fish to West Malaysia and based on the sales report, clearly the potential of the industry is very good.
“Now, the plan is to develop and to attract entrepreneurs with the expertise in fish rearing projects. We can’t cater for the overseas market as we can’t even fulfil the local demand. Our main concern now is to produce enough quantity and quality ‘empurau’ for the domestic market.
“I believe we can do that.”
He disclosed that his ministry had written a formal letter of recommendation to the State Secretary Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani proposing that the project be further developed and expanded.
Jabu said Morshidi had held a comprehensive meeting with the State Planning Unit Director Datu Ismawi Ismuni and that Morshidi had also briefed the cabinet on the proposal that the development of the industry be incorporated under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
He said the ministry would also cooperate with all relevant departments and ministries with a view to utilising the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy’s (SCORE) halal hub.
On the facilities in Tarat, Jabu said: “The rearing project is currently in the trial stages. We are still studying the system to identify whether the tank or the open river (Tagang) system would produce better results.”
According to him, with good management, the fish could grow up to 1.5kg per year.
“The most important aspects are water breeding quality, types of feed and regular feeding.
“I plead with the management to extend their research and development where latest technology will be introduced. They must improve the water circulation system and ensure that there will not be any shortage of water especially during the dry season.
“We will adopt better technology to make sure the re-circulated water is always treated and remain clean. In aquaculture, the number one enemy is pollution,” Jabu said.
Another technology that Jabu hoped could be introduced is the ozone and ionisation of the water to kill the bacteria, which can stunt the growth of the fish.
Jabu also stated that his ministry had set a two-year plan to utilise the available land at the agriculture station to increase storage tank volume and introduce new technology.
“That is why we must increase our efficiency and improve the breeding infrastructure. With a bigger capacity, the centre could produce twice as much. Once we have improved in this sense, we will invite ministers from other ministries to visit as an eye-opener. They will then see the investment needed to realise the potential of ‘empurau’ breeding business,” Jabu said.
At the moment, there are 125 ‘empurau’ fish at the station, all purely for breeding purposes.
According to Jabu, his ministry is interested in increasing the number of breeders and looking at ready investors in Ulu Limbang, Ulu Baram, Ulu Kapit, Ulu Baleh, Ulu Katibas and probably in Batang Ai where the different species of ‘empurau’ exist.
“In the villagers, we will assist and encourage these breeders by teaching them the ‘tagang’ System. Our target is to produce in very large numbers. We would also make sure that the species at the river will not be affected as we will also reseed and distribute the brood stock properly to replenish the ones harvested at the river,” Jabu added.