PHL Eyes Top Shrimp Exporting Country

Manila — The Philippines is aiming to be the top exporter of shrimp in the world, according to Innovatronix Inc. president Ramon Castillo.

”I have this dream that I’d like to be known as somebody who has contributed something to a Philippine industry and I believe eventually that I could contribute to the Philippines to be the number one shrimp exporter,” he told guests of the 4th Anniversary Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) held Friday at the EDSA Shangrila Hotel.

The company takes pride of its efficient research on shrimp production.

”If I can prove that one hectare of that farm is profitable, there’s no reason to make 10 or a hundred hectares of that not profitable,” Castillo told the Philippines News Agency.

The farm is also sustainable due to its recycled water, in which evaporation is the only way for its loss.

Castillo envisions the project will help the agriculture sector, through boosting the fishing sector first, which would lift his countrymen from poverty.

He projects that a 100-hectare warehouse can employ a population of 1,100 people, if the project proves successful.

He added that the scheduled completion date of the shrimp research is on December 2015.

The shrimps are being bred in three greenhouses within a 1.6-hectare lot in Jala-jala, Rizal. Currently, the warehouse has a harvest of four to six tons a month.

The Philippines is ranked number 15 among shrimp exporting countries.

The shrimp market is worth US$ 50 billion worldwide and is price driven, not brand driven. (PNA) LGI/JLD