Phyo/Thant Zin (NSS) - September 30

Union Minister U Min Naung of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation said that, in the upcoming fiscal years, lakes used for fish farming will be systematically upgraded, and consequently, fish farming production is expected to account for 70 percent of its total production in Myanmar.

It was mentioned by the Union Minister on September 22, during the second day of the national-level workshop titled “From Agricultural Sector Development to the Growth of National Products”, which was held at Myanmar International Convention Center-1 in Nay Pyi Taw. 

Union Minister said, “We are undertaking to change the current fish-farming lakes into systematic farming culture and drawing up plans for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP). Those processes need to be initiated and monitored with the cooperation of the Regional or State Government mechanisms.” 

Furthermore, the Union Minister expressed that, regarding current fish production ratio, capture fisheries account for 70 percent and aquaculture for 30 percent; however, efforts are underway to shift this ratio to 70 percent from aquaculture and 30 percent from capture fisheries in the coming fiscal years. 

He said, “We are planning to change the ratio by 10 percent annually. For instance, we will raise aquaculture to 40 percent in the upcoming 2027-2028 fiscal year, and then to 50 percent and 60 percent successively. After reaching the level of 70 percent, we will change the ratio to 70 percent for aquaculture and 30 percent for capture fisheries, with an annual target.”

Union Minister urged that the cooperation of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation and regional or state government mechanisms will be needed for the promotion of fisheries.

According to data from the Department of Fisheries, plans are being implemented on an annual basis to expand freshwater fish farming ponds and saltwater shrimp farming ponds by a total of 21,845.70 acres between the 2024–2025 and 2028–2029 fiscal years to foster the development of the aquaculture industry. 

Furthermore, regarding the fish farming ponds currently in operation across Myanmar, totaling 331,417.481 acres, approximately one-third of the national total, comprising over 220,000 acres, is located in Ayeyarwady Region.

Similarly, plans are in place to establish saltwater shrimp farming operations in Tanintharyi and Ayeyarwady Regions, and the Union Minister noted the need for shrimp breeding and the construction of domestic feed mills.

“We have put forward proposals to establish saltwater shrimp farming operations including hatcheries in Tanintharyi and Ayeyarwady Regions, as well as to set up domestic factories for producing shrimp feed. Therefore, I would like to propose that the respective regional governments provide support to facilitate these initiatives, covering both domestic feed production and hatchery operations,” the Union Minister stated. 

It is reported that there are a total of 11,012.72 acres of saltwater shrimp farms in Myanmar, with farming primarily concentrated in Ayeyarwady and Tanintharyi Regions.–