Aquatic research centre breeding programme targets 4 million fish

The Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (LARReC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is targeting the breeding of 4 million fish this year to support national food security efforts and supply to farmers.
LARReC officials said the centre is expanding its fish breeding programme, with 8,000-10,000 tonnes expected to reach farmers this year.
The centre will also continue to cooperate with a network of 15 private farms across the country to increase national fish breeding efforts to 215,000 tonnes as outlined in the ministry’s current strategic plan.
However, authorities have pointed out the challenges in fish farming such as extreme weather conditions, which increase the difficulties in meeting farmers’ needs.
The centre will provide policy support and technical assistance to local fish farmers to help them reduce input costs and also increase yields in line with LARReC’s target.
Plans are also afoot at the centre to reduce fish fingerling imports from other countries as the nation aims for self sufficiency.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reported that fish breeding in Laos, particularly tilapia, is concentrated along the Nam Ngum and Mekong rivers and has slowly expanded in recent years.
Until recently, about 60 to 70 percent of the fish consumed in Vientiane came from tilapia breeders in these rivers with the remainder from other domestic suppliers.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update February 4, 2020)