By Nabilah Saleh
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- The National Fishermen’s Association (NEKMAT) has allocated RM5.3 million for the third phase of its white shrimp farming project at the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Badong Aquaculture Park in Pekan, Pahang, with nine new ponds expected to begin operations in March 2028.
NEKMAT general manager Azrin Shah Ismail said the third phase, which began in July, involved developing 10 ponds, one for water treatment, while the other nine were expected to produce about 120 tonnes of shrimp annually.
He said the treatment pond was necessary to ensure a supply of treated seawater to maintain shrimp health throughout the farming cycle and help increase yields.
The basic infrastructure for the third phase was being fully funded by NEKMAT without assistance from third parties, he said.
“NEKMAT has also received an offer of RM6.24 million in financing through Agrobank’s Fund for Food (3F),” he told Bernama.
Azrin Shah said the production target had been set based on plans to expand the project in stages.
He said the annual target of 120 tonnes, established in 2025, had already taken the planned expansion into account.
The second phase, which began construction in 2024, became fully operational in June 2025 and comprised four shrimp farming ponds.
The second phase cost RM3.7 million, including an upgrade of the electricity supply to 1,000 amperes, while LKIM provided RM1.4 million in infrastructure funding for the main seawater intake pump.
Bernama previously reported that the four existing ponds at the project site produced 58 tonnes of white shrimp worth RM1.4 million in 2025.
In a statement on June 13, the Fisheries Department said the country’s marine shrimp production, comprising tiger and white shrimp, totalled 57,047.80 tonnes in 2025, with a wholesale value of RM1.53 billion.
On technology adoption, Azrin Shah said NEKMAT was in discussions with technology providers to develop an automated water-quality control system and mechanise shrimp farming operations using artificial intelligence (AI).
“Investment in AI technology is expected to be implemented in 2028, after all the ponds are fully operational,” he said.
He said NEKMAT was also open to collaborating with Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in aquaculture.
-- BERNAMA