Vientiane shrimp farmers are struggling to meet market demand after recent flooding and cool weather have had an adverse impact on their production levels.
          Supply is particularly low because one major shrimp farm, the Union Phoukham Farm, has reduced its supply levels and another, the 9 Meena Shrimp Farm, has halted production completely.

          “Supply levels have dropped because shrimps die if the weather is too cold,” said Manager of the Union Phoukham Farm, Mr Amphone Soukkhavong, on Friday.
          Before the cool weather the farm was delivering 200 to 250 kg of shrimp to local markets daily. “Currently we can only supply 150-170 kg per day,” Mr Amphone said.
          About 60 percent of juvenile and 10 percent of mature shrimps died during the recent cool weather.
          “Normally one pond can produce 3 tonnes of large shrimps, but if the weather is cool that figure falls to 1.5 tonnes,” Mr Amphone said.
          “Cooler weather slows the growth of shrimps and means we have to take extra care in looking after the shrimps.”
          Union Phoukham Farm covers an area of 40 hectares and contains 24 ponds for breeding large shrimps and four ponds for smaller shrimps.
          “Now we’re only using eight ponds for larger shrimps and two for smaller ones,” Mr Amphone said.
          The 9 Meena shrimp Farm stopped supplying shrimps two months ago after it was affected by flooding.
          The farm is about the same size as the Union Phoukham Farm and has similar production levels.
          “We hope to resume production in the next few months,” Mr Chanthadara said.
          The farm is currently raising juvenile shrimps it imported from Thailand three months ago. “We expect to begin supplying markets before the Lao New Year in April,” he said.
          Demand for shrimps from Vientiane restaurants exceeds 500 kg per day. Several large horels and restaurants in Laos require about 20 kg each per day, according to Mr Chanthadara.
          Many restaurants have to import shrimps from neighbouring countries to satisfy demand.
          The 9 Meena Shrimps Farm is located in Veunkham village, Vientiane, and was established in 2005 as a joint Lao-Thai business venture, with Lao investors holding a 15 percent share.
          The Union Phoukham Farm is also a joint Lao-Thai business venture, in which Lao investors hold a 25 percent share.
          The farms were established after Thai businesses tested the Nam Ngum River and found it was suitable for commercial shrimp farming.
          The farms import juvenile shrimps from Thailand but plan to breed them locally as more than 60 percent of the shrimp die during transportation.
          According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the only other shrimp farm in Laos is located in Borikhamxay province.

                       ຂໍ້ມູນຈາກ ໜັງສືພິມລາຍວັນ Vientiane Time ສະບັບທີ 24 ລົງວັນທີ 29 ມັງກອນ 2009