THE Myanmar Shrimp Association (MSA) has said it expects production of freshwater prawns to increase by up to 70 percent this financial year as more hatcheries continue to open.

Chairman of the association U Hla Maung Shwe noted, however, that favourable weather conditions were crucial to achieving such a substantial increase.

“In 2004, there were only five freshwater prawn hatcheries in Myanmar but this has grown to 15 in 2007. We expect production of freshwater prawns could increase by 70pc this year,” U Hla Maung Shwe said on August 11 at the closing ceremony of a prawn farming course held at the Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF) headquarters in Yangon.

Freshwater prawn farmers are chasing a government-imposed export target of US$60 million this year, more than twice the $27 million they earned together with saltwater shrimp farmers in the 2006-07 financial year, which ended March 31.

According to the MSA, exports of 1807 tonnes of freshwater prawns earned $14 million in 2006-07, up from $12 million from 1584 tonnes in 2005-06. The export volume was higher in 2004-05 at 1846 tonnes, which earned the industry about $13 million.

U Hla Maung Shwe said at the association’s annual meeting in June that the MSA was aiming for a significant long-term increase in production starting this year, with output targeted to double over the next two years.

He added that there was strong demand regionally and further abroad for freshwater prawns.

To help the industry boost production, the MSA intends to send a delegation to Thailand in either September or November to study production methods there, he said.

The trip follows a July 23-26 visit to southern Thailand at the invitation of major Thai seafood producer Chareoen Pokphand (CP) Group, during which 14 MSA members were shown shrimp farms, hatcheries and processing plants run by CP Group.

U Hla Maung Shwe earlier said he was impressed by what he had seen and that he hoped some of the Thai techniques, such as acquiring quality-recognition certificates and operating enclosed shrimp farms, could be emulated here.

MFF chairman U Htay Myint said on August 11 that freshwater prawn farms could be set up nationwide.

“Seawater shrimp farms can only be set up at coastal areas but freshwater prawn farms can be established in all states and divisions.

“And as for the technique, it is not as complicated as seawater shrimp farming and the required investment is smaller. But there is good potential in the international market,” said U Htay Myint, who pledged support from the MFF for the development of the industry.

The recent July 30 to August 10 training program was the fifth such freshwater prawn farming course offered by the federation since 2004.

Some 63 students attended the program, which featured lectures from 22 experts from various fields and visits to local farms.

According to evaluations completed by students at the end of the course, 92pc said they believed what they had learned would help them start their own freshwater prawn farms.

Figures from the MSA show a 60-70pc success rate for students who go on to start their own operations.

So far, more than 350 people have been through the MFF’s freshwater prawn farming programs.