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Ref:351/02 |
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Colombia
- July 4, 2002 |
Source:
FIS |
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Deal promotes shrimp
farming |
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Colombian
aquaculturalists and the government have signed an
agreement to strengthen and promote the country’s
shrimp farming industry. The ultimate aim is to
export up to 200,000 tonnes a year of quality
shrimp.
Although one of the
biggest farmed shrimp producers in Latin America,
Colombia has been badly affected by white spot
syndrome, Taura syndrome and the climatic problems
associated with El Niño, which have stopped the
sector reaching its full potential. |
The increasing
consumption of white meat is seen as a factor, which
could benefit Columbian shrimp greatly. (Photo:Exporklore) |
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| A lack of
development policy and poor financial investment has
left the industry in a weak state, requiring better
infrastructure and more specialised professional
training. The sector has also suffered from stiff
competition from some Asian countries, such as Vietnam
and China, which has prevented Colombia making the most
of its quality product.
One aim of the newly
signed Sectorial Competitiveness Agreement for the
Shrimp Farming Chain is to seek to differentiate
Colombian shrimp products internationally from poorer
quality competitors.
The
National Association of Columbian
Aquaculturalists (Acuanal) and the
Aquaculture Research Centre (Ceniacua) carried out a
complete study of Colombian shrimp farming and global
eating habits. The increasing consumption of white meat
is seen as a factor, which could benefit Colombian
shrimp greatly.
Part of the new deal will
involve evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the
industry before putting together strategies for the
future and forming a National Council for the Shrimp
Farming Chain. Effort is to go into more research in
genetics and cultivation, the establishment of training
processes and increased cooperation with the
Foreign Trade Ministry
and
Proexport in a bid to
make the product stand out from the international
competition.
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