THE prices of freshwater products, which are part of basic foodstuffs for people, are on the rise due to the high consumption and the sale of premature fish, although it can disrupt the regular breeding and production chain, according to the Shwe Padauk Fish Market in Hline Township, Yangon.
Before the first week of July, when saltwater products started entering the market, freshwater products were fetching good prices. As a result, fish pond owners in Ayeyawady Region, Yangon Region, and Bago Region harvested their ponds ahead of schedule. This was because the current market prices offered higher profits than raising the fish to full maturity, and the savings on fish feed costs and the ability to avoid possible flooding of ponds caused by weather conditions. The fish were then sent for sale to the Shwe Padauk and Central San Pya fish markets.
“Due to good fish prices and other factors, the fish farmers are sending small-sized fish to the market instead of breeding them to full size as before. This is more profitable for them and also reduces the production costs. However, the production and consumption are no longer running as usual, and the fish production chain could be disrupted. Normally, fish are raised for 10 months to a year before being sold, but now they are being harvested and sold after only four or five months. Since this is not a seasonal breeding and production pattern, it could affect both the market and freshwater production. If fish supply decreases, prices will rise, and if there is no regular breeding and production, fish farming could be impacted. The situation may only return to normal in the coming open season and monsoon season,” said Vice-Chair U Aye Ko of the Shwe Padauk Fish Market Development Committee.
The arrival of small-sized fish into the market, there is only 20 per cent of fish breeding in export size. The fish farming rate declines due to the difficulties in purchasing the fish at four or five inches and the high prices. Such cases cause high fish prices. As the farmed fish are entering the Yangon fish markets, and due to the arrival of undersized fish, the distribution of large-sized fish has decreased. Fish traders are sending these fish to regions and states, including Nay Pyi Taw, and also to various townships in Yangon. Consumers are buying the smaller-sized fish at the prices as same prices as the larger ones.
The Shwe Padauk Fish Market received 500,000 visses of marine products per day previously, and now 300,000 visses or above. — Thitsa(MNA)/KTZH
