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Published on August 17, 2007

The Fisheries Department suggests shrimp farmers switch to

premium sizes to avoid the problem of falling prices for smaller prawns.

Deputy director-general Niwat Sutheemeechaikul said yesterday that large prawns could find a good market in high purchasing-power countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Up to now the focus has been on vannamai shrimp, which yield small and medium-size specimens that serve only the US market. However, varieties that are less than 40 shrimp per kilogram will have higher demand in the market. Thailand targets to increase large shrimp production to 30,000 tonnes, accounting for 5-7 per cent of the total per year. The crop will be mainly exported to Japan.

Agriculture

Agency continues food-bank scheme

The Agricultural Land Reform Office continues to develop "food banks" to expand supply to people on 580,000 rai across the country.

Secretary-general Anant Phusitthikul said yesterday that the office would encourage people under the project to grow more plants. Of the total area, 26,000 rai in 25 provinces have already been planted with 7.32 million trees. It plans to expand plantation area by 23,000 rai next year. The project will focus on commercial crops such as teak

and herbs.

Property sector

37-floor condo for Ramkhamhaeng

Chaopraya Mahanakorn has launched a trendy , Bt1.5 billion, 37-storey condominium called Bangkok Horizon in the Ramkhamhaeng area. The company recently kicked off pre-sales of the project in office buildings, offering prices at Bt39,000 per square metre through next month. Over 25 per cent of the units are expected to be booked.