EU, Australian Government support
local mud crab business with upgrade
By MARAIA VULA
The country’s first commercial mud crab business achieved a milestone through the launch of its new and improved farming and processing facilities in Navua yesterday.
The Crab Company of (Fiji) Limited which started operating in 2011 was supported by the European Union and the Australian Government in achieving this.
The facilities are expected to help the company increase their production and better serve the market demands for Fiji’s mud crabs.
The European Union-provided support came from the Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) project.
The crab company is also supported by the Australian Government through the Market Development Facility (MDF), its flagship programme for private sector development in Fiji.
Australian High Commission deputy head of mission, Karinda D’Aloisio, said the event was significant as the beginning of a new commercial mud-crab industry for the country.
She said: “This is an industry that will help to improve income opportunities for local women and families dependent on the mangroves for their livelihood.
Speaking at the launch, both donors described the event as a significant development for the aquaculture industry in the country and applauded the company’s progress since it began operations.
Confidence boost
Currently, the business supplies over a dozen local hotels and restaurants, and is exploring exporting opportunities to larger overseas markets in the future.
Company director, Wilco Liebregts, said now they would have an importer confidence in other countries.
Mr Wilco said: “Now we will have our food safety standards improved that’s one of the main high requirements by many countries in Europe, United States of America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. They will require minimum food safety standard requirement. Probably in the next few months, we will achieve that much.”
Boosting economic development
European Union Delegation for the Pacific representative, Jesús Lavina, described the importance of trade as one of the most effective ways to help boost economic development.
“Through the IACT project, 42 enterprises are supported in order to modernise their operations, expand their business and create sustainable employment opportunities for the local communities,” he said.
“This project is an important part of our efforts to improve the export capacity within the private sector.
“Therefore we actively support enterprises, particularly those that will help create meaningful jobs for the people of the Pacific and help improve their livelihoods.”
The assistance
The Market Development Facility’s assistance has focused on improving hatchery production, rehabilitation and construction of new crab ponds, and piloting of the new grow-out mangrove pens.
The European Union assistance has focused on capacity building, processing and packaging training and equipment.
The MDF Fiji country representative, Mohammad Shahroz Jalil, said with some of the mangrove pens already set up in Navua, the company was now in a better position to understand and demonstrate the grow-out scheme to interested villages.
“Going forward, we eagerly await the installation of the grow-out pens among coastal communities,” he said.
Greater opportunity
IACT project team leader, Samu Turagacati, stressed the contribution made by the European Union towards the processing facility, would help the company to safely process live mud crabs for domestic and export markets.
Ministry of Fisheries and Forests deputy secretary Sanaila Naqali congratulated the company in venturing into crab farming business, using only local crabs.