Shrimp production in Davao under threat
By Antonio L. Colina IV, Manila Bulletin
Davao City – Shrimp production in Davao Region is under threat due to the unpredictable weather patterns brought about by climate change.
This was disclosed by Anders Haagen, a co-owner of the Anderlude Seafoods Corp., who said that the unpredictable patterns of the weather concern have affected the production of shrimps in their three locations in the region – Dumoy in Davao City, Sta. Cruz and Hagonoy in Davao del Sur.
The firm is the largest shrimp producer in the region and the only one into processing of shrimp.
“There is climate change. If we are only a farmer, then you can’t control the climate and we have experienced a lot more rain lately, we experienced a lot of things. It makes it more risky and more dangerous to be the farmer alone,” he said.
His firm opened the first processing plant of shrimp in the region located at the state-owned Davao Fish Port Complex in a fishing barangay of Daliao, Toril in Davao City last Friday.
He said they had invested into this new undertaking to “spread out our risk a little bit” by also participating in the processing that would also add value to the products.
“But when you process, your risk profile is much lower. If it rains for two much, we don’t care. We don’t lose the whole harvest, so it’s a much more predictable business, and more predictable means more manageable,” he said.
He said their company produced about 1,000 tons of shrimps that were sold directly to markets around the region, and in Manila, and they were expecting around 800 to 1,000 tons of shrimp to produce within the year.
His partner, Ludevito S. Batilong, the president of Anderlude Seafoods Corp., said no plans for export are being considered at present because they want to satisfy the domestic demand first.
He said Davao City’s demand alone ranges from 5 to 10 tons a day and their company is shipping about 10 containers, or 140 to 180 tons every month to Manila.
He said they have 127 hectares of shrimp farms – 45 hectares in Dumoy, Davao City and 14 hectares in Sta. Cruz and 68 hectares in Hagonoy in Davao del Sur.
The two started with only two hectares of shrimp nursery.
Haagen said the outbreak of avian flu in San Luis, Pampanga will increase the demand for seafood.
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