CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) said more hatcheries are eyed to be put up for a prawn-based multi-commodity enterprise in the Visayas region after the agency noted a huge prawn export opportunity in Japan.

According to the BAR, the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte plans to put up more hatchery facilities to expand prawn production in the region.

The VSU has developed a technology for increased production of prawn and other commodities following a model of an outstanding farmer, Benjamin G. Gerona Jr., who added freshwater prawn or “ulang” on top of his existing vegetable crops and tilapia.

Gerona had a return on investment of 32 percent on his P34,400 investment.

Earlier, a statement issued by the BAR said the agency is “ready to support a multi-commodity enterprise as a development strategy in order to help maximize the income of farmers.”

VSU researchers Veronica L. Reoma, Nestor O. Morales, and Tamar Mejia, Jr. have found in the study filed with BAR that Gerona’s multi-enterprise system could enable farmers to maximize their earnings.

Based on the VSU-Southern Leyte State University study called “Integrated Giant Freshwater Prawn and Vegetable Production,” when prawn was integrated into farms, the latter earned a net income of 3,474 in the first cropping, P12,890 in the second cropping, and P16,182 in the third, or a total of P32,497.

“The production of high value products like prawn will significantly raise farmers’ income and diversifying sources of farm income is something that BAR supports,” said BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar.

VSU’s College of Fisheries has started planning for hatchery expansion since demand for prawn product in Leyte alone has been brisk.

“We are considering expanding the hatchery in strategic areas where it can be more available for farmers for ease of transportation,” Reoma said.

The VSU initially targets addressing the local demand for prawns but is determined to export these to Japan where there is a huge export opportunity for Filipino prawn producers. Although its prawn or shrimp consumption in general has been declining, Japan’s shrimp import value was placed at $1 to $2 billion yearly toward 2010.

The Philippines ranked fourth as shrimp exporter to Japan in the 1990s with its seven percent share next to Thailand, Indonesia, and China. But disease hitting shrimp production and farmers’ inability to keep up with quality such prawn size caused the Philippines’ declining export.

With a replication of Gerona’s system in his farm in Sogod, Leyte, freshwater prawn production in many suitable areas in Leyte and other Visayas provinces is hoped to help raise national prawn production.