2014-08-12
The North Western Provincial office of the SLEDB, successfully conducted the awareness seminar/workshop on Ornamental Fish for the export Market on 12th August 2014 in the auditorium of District Secretariat-Kurunegala with the participation of 110 export oriented Ornamental Fish farmers in North Western & North Central Provinces. The programme was organized by the NWP-EDB with the assistance of National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA).
The main objective of conducting this programme is to increase the capacity of export oriented ornamental fish farmers in the region by way of enhancing Technical/Market awareness and facilitating linkages between farmers and exporters in order to develop consolidated supply base of quality ornamental fish for exports.
At this seminar, Mr. A.R.Mudalige/Officer In Charge of Aquaculture Development Center at Dambulla -NAQDA, took part as a resource person & delivered a valuable presentation giving more emphasis to the technical aspects of farming quality ornamental fish for the export market including water quality maintenance, the process & importance of quarantine facility & disease control methods etc. The presentation was more helpful for participants as they could discuss all the technical matters they have encountered while dealing in this industry. Mr. A.R.Mudalige elaborated further that organizing these types of seminars by the EDB is vital for the advancement of the industry & highlighted the need of providing assistance to obtain brood stocks for farmers as the investment is high.
In addition NWP-EDB made arrangements to get the service of an export company for the seminar as a resource person with the intention of providing practical experience on the sector for participants. In response to a request made by the NWP-EDB, Mr. Gayan Danushka/ Managing Director of A qualified International (Pvt) Ltd. a leading Ornamental fish exporter in the industry delivered a presentation on significance of quality requirements of supplying ornamental fish for the export market. Moreover, participants made aware on regular problems face by exporters when supplying ornamental fish for the export market. He expressed that there is a huge potential to develop this industry in Sri Lanka based on the availability of natural resources, though the current export share in the world market is less than 3%. Singapore is the world leader in exporting Ornamental fish which comprise the largest market share, even they have very minimal natural resources in the country compared to Sri Lanka.
An officer representing the North Western Provincial office of the EDB also delivered a presentation on current export market trends of the Ornamental Fish at this seminar.
However, this event offered certainly an excellent opportunity for export-oriented Ornamental Fish farmers in the NWP/ NCP and the NWP-EDB is intending to facilitate to establish linkages between farmers & exporters with the assistance of respective institutes to develop a consolidated supply base of quality Ornamental Fish for the export market from Regions as an upcoming activity of this programme.
