Johor bahru: The Johor State Fishermen's Association (JOSFA) plans to expand its large-scale white prawn farming project in tanks to meet growing local demand. JOSFA chairman Datuk Mohamad Dolmat said the effort is a follow-up to the success of the white prawn farming project that began in September last year on a 1.62-hectare site in Kampung Sungai Danga, Johor Bahru.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Dolmat indicated that initial concerns about market reception quickly dissipated as demand exceeded available supply. He stated, "At first, we were a bit hesitant because we were worried there would be no buyers, but now the supply is insufficient to meet the demand."

The project, operating on land owned by JOSFA, currently includes nine rearing tanks and two water treatment tanks. With a harvest cycle every four months, the project can produce about three harvest cycles a year, which plays a role in strengthening national food security and boosting the local economy.

Mohamad Dolmat noted that the project has already successfully yielded its first harvest of 22 tonnes earlier this year. This harvest was distributed to wholesalers and sold through MADANI Sales around Johor and in Putrajaya. Despite this success, in Johor alone, the daily demand per wholesaler can reach between 500 kilogrammes and one tonne of shrimp, highlighting the strong market potential for the local aquaculture industry.

In response to this demand, JOSFA plans to expand operations by applying for a lease of state government land through J-Biotech, covering approximately 20.24 hectares in Sedili, Kota Tinggi. This expansion could potentially increase production capacity with an estimated 100 tanks, allowing for a monthly output of over 10 tonnes of shrimp from one to five tanks.

Mohamad Dolmat also expressed JOSFA's openness to collaborating with the state government, should there be an opportunity to secure a site or land lease near water sources to further expand the project.

He mentioned that the shrimp farming project in tanks was financed using their own resources and includes facilities such as an aeration system using blowers to generate oxygen in the tanks. This setup allows for more efficient water quality control compared with pond farming. "Although the cost is slightly higher compared to pond farming, in terms of management, it is more organised and systematic," he commented.

Mohamad Dolmat also emphasized the importance of monitoring other aspects such as calcium and magnesium levels to ensure the optimal growth of the shrimp.

Datuk Zahari Sarip, Chairman of the Johor State Committee on Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development, remarked that the project implemented by JOSFA in Kampung Sungai Danga has the potential to strengthen the state's aquaculture industry, aligning with the high demand for local white prawn. He further noted that the project could assist the state government in meeting its target of achieving aquaculture production growth of 38,000 to 40,000 tonnes per year by 2027.