| The
San Francisco valley region, in Sergipe, is emerging as the
country's third most important aquaculture area with
estimated production of Tilapia and Shrimp worth BRL 18
million (USD 5.13 million) matching production levels of two
years ago. |
The region produces Tilapia and
shrimp. (Photo:K Fitzimmons) |
| The
promising forecast has prompted the
San Francisco Valley Development
Company (Codevasf) to set up the Aquaculture
Reference Centre (Ceraqua) in Puerto Real del Colegio with
an investment of BRL 2.5 million (approximately USD
713,000). The new centre will be dedicated to fingerling
farming, especially tilapia, and is due to open before the
end of the year.
The region's vast potential
has already caught the attention of Brazilian and foreign
investors, in particular from Belgium, China, Taiwan and
Chile. There are already 650 small and medium-scale
companies involved in production and the
National Economic and Social
Development Bank (BNDES) is expected to
approve a BRL 50 million loan for the Tilapia, Shrimp, Fish
and Shellfish Production Development Support Programme to
fund new intiatives.
Codevasf
communications manager, Eduardo Mota, told Mercado da
Pesca that a survey carried out by his organisation
reveals that the production capacity of this area could
reach 350,000 tonnes of tilapia per year. This is
considerably more than the 230,000 tonnes of fish produced
annually in the Mississippi delta, where 50 per cent of US
production is farmed.
Nevertheless, Mota said the
producers need the support of the entire productive system
and will only meet targets if high-technology companies,
that can reach important markets, become established in the
region.
With more than 60,000
hectares of plains, a warm climate throughout the year and
abundant water resources, the San Francisco valley is an
ideal location for aquaculture.
By FIS Latino
|
