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Fish farmers trawl for profits as wet season looms
The price of farmed fish in Vientiane has fallen as breeders rush to sell off their stock ahead of the rainy season.
During Lao New Year in mid-April the cost of fish was 19,000 kip-20,000 kip a kg but this week that has fallen to 17,000-18,000 kip per kg, President of the Fish Farm Breeding Association Mr Kenchan Thairavan told Vientiane Times yesterday.
He said fish farmers are hoping to sell their stocks before the wet season begins because they can get higher prices now.
In the dry season demand for fish rises due to the number of baci ceremonies, weddings and parties held, with fish a popular choice of dish at such events, Mr Kenchan said.
Also affecting prices is the fact that in the rainy season people can more easily catch their own fish from rivers, streams and ponds, meaning they are less likely to buy farmed fish and thus prices fall.
Mr Kenchan said he expects the cost of farmed fish will continue to decrease as the wet season starts.
“We breed a lot of fish in the rainy season but also face greater risks of flooding and fish stocks dying due to water contamination,” he said.
Last year fish farmers along the Mekong River in Hadxaifong district, Vientiane, were badly impacted by fluctuating water levels in the wet season which led to long periods of muddy water and a lack of oxygen in the water.
A lot of caged fish have died due to poor water quality in past years, said fish farmer Mr Souksavanh Keosomphet.
Last year about 1,800 kg of fish at his farm were affected and other farms around Vientiane saw all their stock wiped out, he said.
The river's level typically fluctuates most between the end of June and the beginning of July as the weather conditions change and the wet season starts, said Mr Souksavanh.
At the same time, the cost of farmed fish often falls to about 10,000-12,000 kip a kg as fish farmers sell off their stock to prevent losses in the wet season.
“We encounter this problem almost every year but we haven't been able to find a solution,” Mr Souksavanh said.
“Three years ago I lost about 100 million kip (400,000 baht) because of poor water quality in the wet season.”
In 2009, a lot of fish farmers along the Mekong River around the country were impacted by floods and storms that swept away thousands of fish cages.
Between 10 and 12 tonnes of fish is consumed per day in Vientiane in the wet season, and that increases to between 15 and 16 tonnes a day in the dry season.
Farmers are able to produce between 18 and 20 tonnes of fish per day, which is considered adequate to meet the needs of Vientiane consumers.
Mr Kaenchan said the association had proposed a set price of 18,000 kip per kg for farmed fish in Vientiane for the present as the cost of production is estimated at almost 15,300 kip per kg.
The price was agreed to by the agriculture and forestry sector and is now awaiting comment from the commerce and industry sector.
vientiane times
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