THE government has organised a training workshop to encourage the growth of the organic fisheries products sector.

The workshop, on post-harvest technology for organic fish and fisheries products, was the first of its kind. It took place at the Myanmar Fisheries Federation from June 9 and 10, both for companies already established in organic farming and to encourage others who are thinking of starting, said U Tint Wai, head of the Factory Inspection and Monitoring Section of the Department of Fisheries.

The UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation and two other bodies, Common Fund for Commodities and Info Fish, organised the workshop jointly with the Department of Fisheries. With a budget of US$150,000, the three organisations have been conducting organic aquaculture projects in Thailand and Myanmar since 2007.

Two experts from the Thai Department of Fisheries and two from Malaysia gave the training, at which a total of 51 people from the Department of Fisheries and 21 representatives of factories attended.

The two companies that have already received organic certificates are Palei Nai and Asia Thar.