October 30, 2009 21:12 PM

Turning Negeri Sembilan Into Freshwater Prawn Hub

By Razali Pilus

SEREMBAN, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- An ambitious freshwater prawn breeder is determined to turn Negeri Sembilan into a freshwater prawn producing hub in Malaysia.

Low Chong Ming, 43, intends to breed freshwater prawns on a commercial scale given the high demand for the prawns with lucrative returns.

Low says he is prepared to share his knowledge and expertise with any individual or company keen to venture into freshwater prewn breeding.

To realise his plan, he is inviting owners of land suitable for freshwater prawn breeding in Negeri Sembilan to join him.

"I am prepared to enter into a joint venture with landowners for the purpose," he told BERNAMA when met after a working visit by State Action Committee Chairman for Agriculture, Agro-based Industries, Entrepreneur Development and Co-operatives Datuk Yunus Rahmat to his farm at Kampung Felda Sendayan in Labu Friday.

Low, a former pig rearer in Bukit Pelandok, Port Dickson, ventured into freshwater prawn breeding in 2000, by converting 16 disused ponds to breed the prawns, investing RM165,000 as initial start-up capital via his company, YHL Aquaculture Enterprise.

Low, who still lives ini Bukit Pelandok, has 35 ponds now on a 20.25ha site, producing an estimated two to three tonnes of freshwater prawns a month.

He said the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) epidemic that paralysed the pig-rearing industry in Bukit Pelandok in 1999 did not dampen his desire to diversify into other business for his livelihood.

In fact, his bold initiative to venture into freshwater prawn breeding had changed his livelihood.

"Freshwater prawn breeding is not an easy venture but my hardwork and seriousness in attending courses organised by the Fisheries Department gave me the confidence and determination to take the risk to invest a big sum of money in this project," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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