Incentives to shrimp farmers on cards

PAKISTAN - The Ministry of Food is contemplating a plan to encourage shrimp farming to earn sizeable foreign exchange. An incentive package is being considered to facilitate shrimp farmers in this regard.

The demand of shrimps has been increasing throughout the world, because this is the food item among fish. Though the demand is increasing, the catch is decreasing and the cost of catchers increasing due to high cost of fuel, gear and labour for operating the trawlers in sea, a ministry source said.

"Many countries of Far East Asia have introduced shrimp culture production, where brackish water is available. Marine culture is now progressing in South East Asia such as Indonesia, India, Bangladesh,

Taiwan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, etc." he addressed.