BORNEO BULLETIN- 15th January 2010

(click to view larger)

BORNEO BULLETIN- 11th January 2010

Making hard $$ from soft-shell crab farming

By: Azaraimy HH

Participants during practical course

Golden Crab Enterprise Managing Director Pg Hj Haris bin Pg Hj Duraman presenting a certificate of completion

Going from owning a bicycle to owning a car...

The soft-shell crab business, as a thriving contract farming industry, has successfully helped the village poor in Malaysia to transform their livelihood.


Industry insiders said the business has huge potential to be developed into a cottage industry here in Brunei and is capable of helping middle-class locals to improve their family income.


With small investment start-ups, low-cost overheads and a stable market, the business is perfect for local pensioners too, they said.


In view of this, 10 enthusiasts have signed up and successfully completed a two-day theory and practical course on how to produce soft-shell crabs. The course was held for the first time by Golden Crabs Enterprise, a local supplier of soft-shell crab production technology.


"I never would have guessed how easy it is to venture into the business with the help of Golden Crab Enterprise," said Enclosed Soft-Shell Crab Production course participant Haji Md Nasran bin Hj Yusof, who is currently working with Brunei Shell Petroleum.


"Not only are soft-shell crabs easy to eat, they also have high-meat content. And the beauty of it is, with contract-farming, you only have to buy the special cabinet to produce soft-shell crabs and Golden Crabs Enterprise will take care of the rest, including making sure the water is right, the crabs are fed, etc. Golden Crab Enterprise will also sell them for you," Hj Md Nasran said.


"You can do it yourself. After the course you will find it easy to do, and you may even find your own buyers. To me, contract farming is attractive because I am currently working.


"The course fee was $300, but I found it indeed worthwhile. I am planning to acquire at least two cabinets as a try-out for the moment," he added.


Golden Crabs Enterprise technical Director Encik Zulkarnain bin Zainal who comes from Malaysia said, "Soft-shell crab production has been able to improve the financial well-being of people in Malaysia (from poor to lower-class citizens) within one-and-a-half years.


"So the impact of a contract-farming business such as this is very apparent in Malaysia. And for soft-shell crabs, it is in high demand.


"In Malaysia, we have developed a benchmark for the production of soft-shell crabs. Therefore, in Brunei, it is easy to just follow this benchmark and learn from past mistakes Malaysia has made in producing the soft shell crabs," he added.


"In contrast with traditional ways of farming hard-shell crabs that require large farming areas coupled with high capital costs, the advantage of producing soft-shell crabs are that the cost is much lower and it doesn't require a large land area relative to production capacity.


"For example, you do not need to dig large farm ponds. You only need an area with a rooftop to store the cabinets and that even an old woman can oversee," he explained.


"In Brunei, the Golden Crab Enterprise also guarantees that they will oversee the selling of the crabs based on the going price, making it easier for small time producers to sell their produce."


One cabinet, which carries a $4,500 price tag, can produce around 324 crabs. At $18 per kilo, a person can earn quite a modest profit from the business. The initial cost of the cabinet can be fully recovered in a year and a half.


With a small operating cost, soft-shell crab production can provide earnings of $300 per cabinet per month.


Local producer Golden Crabs Enterprise, the first local firm to produce soft-shell crabs, only started in August 2009. The company is supplying to local restaurants and hotels and has also received an overseas offer to produce one tonne of soft-shell crabs.


With the current production capacity, the company is unable to satisfy that demand.


Seeing the opportunity it presents, the company is offering the general public the chance to take part in the business and develop soft-shell crab production into a thriving cottage industry in Brunei, something that has been done in countries such as Thailand and Malaysia.


Due to its encouraging response, Golden Crabs Enterprise will be holding another two-day course on January 15 (Theory) and January 17 (practical) at Lambak Apartment.


For further information, interested parties can contact Golden Crabs Enterprise or contact Hj Hasbola Shah bin Rosmali Shah at 8751657 or Hj Ramli bin Hj Othman at 8784125.

BORNEO BULLETIN- 3rd January 2010

An emerging business – soft shell crab farming

By AZARAIMY HH Jan 3rd, 2010

Golden Crabs Enterprise Partners, Pengiran Hj Haris, Haji Hasbola and Haji Ramli

The exoskeleton of a crab is lifted to show the soft shell underneath. When the crab grows it sheds the shell- a process called molting

cabinets used for rearing the soft shells crabs. Photos: Azaraimy HH

soft shell crabs for sale at Golden Crabs Enterprise in Kg Lambak, No 13, Spg 271, Lambak Industrial Complex

Besides prawn-rearing, there is another aquaculture-based opportunity to help the nation achieve self-sufficiency in food production – indoor soft shell crab farming, which also has export potential.

Fished out fresh not from ponds or the sea, the high-meat content soft shell crabs can be reared by anyone without hectares of farmland or sea farm. Produced in cabinets, the farming method is fully organic, meaning there is not a drop of chemical used.

Industry sources told the Bulletin that the Sultanate imports 50 per cent of its crab needs, 40 per cent from wild catches and 10 per cent from pond farms.

Therefore, the potential for soft shell crabs is huge.

Golden Crabs Enterprise, the first local firm to produce soft shell crabs, started its operations last August.

The company supplies the crabs to local restaurants and hotels, but according to the proprietors, they have received an overseas demand for one tonne of soft shell crabs.

However, the company’s production capacity can’t satisfy that demand.

Seeing this opportunity, the company is offering the public a chance to take part in the business and develop the soft shell crab production into a thriving cottage industry, something that is being done in countries such as Thailand and Malaysia.

The firm’s managing director said the company wants to develop the production of soft shell crab as a public programme to improve the economy of any family.

Thus, soft shell crabs present a new frontier in the nation’s cottage industry.

It is an opportunity that many have voiced their enthusiasm in venturing into, the Bulletin learnt.

Golden Crab Enterprise said it will supply the technology to the public to rear the high-meat content crabs in order to raise local production to meet local demands and export potential.

According to one of the owners, Hj Habola Shah bin Rosmali Shah, Golden Crab Enterprise is offering two options to would-be producers.

The public, meaning the producer or enthusiast, can buy the special cabinet-like set used to rear soft shell crabs at their own home or premises.

They would then sell the crabs to Golden Crab Enterprise, which would act as a wholesaler or reseller.

This is called contract farming, said the company.

The second option is a bit easier but has limitations for the local producer. The local producer or enthusiast can buy the special cabinet-like set and placed them under the care of Golden Crab Enterprise at its farm sites.

This means, the local enthusiast only has to “sit and wait”.

At the end of the production cycle, the producer pays for “certain” services to Golden Crab Enterprise out of the sales, which will also be taken care of by Golden Crabs Enterprise or whatever the agreement is.

Rearing soft shell crabs is not similar to the production of normal crabs.

Although it is organic production – the crabs grow naturally – it is nevertheless using technology in its approach to achieve the “miracle”.

Without dwelling too much on the technicalities, it is sufficient to say that the production requires constant attention and extra care.

Golden Crab Enterprise explains: When crabs grow, their outer shell – the exoskeleton – doesn’t grow with them, so crabs must regularly shed the shell to increase in size.

This process is known as molting. Soft-shell crabs are crustacean seafood that can be eaten whole after molting their hard shell.

However, the crabs grow out of their shells very quickly, so the crabs must be transferred from their “cabinet box” after molting within two to three hours.

Before that, a small crab weighing around 100 grammes will be put into each cabinet shelf, after molting – or about a month – the crab will weigh around 250 grammes each – “fully meat”.

A single unit of the cabinet set (42 shelves/boxes with each crab occupying one box or shelf) costs $4,200.

There are currently 14 sets at Golden Crab Enterprise, some of which already belong to local producers, it was learnt.

The crabs cost $18 per kilo, which is more expensive than normal crabs but soft shell crabs have high-meat content and are much easier to eat.

Golden Crabs Enterprise said it is ordering more units as the company is confident that demand from potential local producers will increase.

Those interested in rearing the soft shell crabs can take a two-day course starting on September 9 at the soft shell crab farming site. There will be a fee.

Those interested can contact Hj Hasbola Shah bin Rosmali Shah at 8751657 or Hj Ramli bin Hj Othman at 8784125 for information.

http://news.brunei.fm/2010/01/03/an-emerging-business-soft-shell-crab-farming/

PELITA BRUNEI- 3rd January 2010

Kursus ternakan ketam
berkulit lembut tertutup dibukakan

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Ahad, 3 Januari. - Golden Crab Enterprise, sebuah syarikat tempatan yang beroperasi sejak setahun yang lepas menerajui bidang akuakultur ternakan Ketam Nipah dan pusat ternakan ketam kulit lembut secara tertutup yang pertama di negara ini.

Syarikat tersebut juga menawarkan kursus dibukakan kepada orang ramai yang berminat dengan ternakan ketam nipah berkulit lembut secara tertutup yang akan diadakan selama dua hari bermula dari 9 hingga 10 Januari 2010 nanti.

Penglibatan para penduduk mukim dan kampung, bakal-bakal pesara, ibu tunggal mahu pun orang kurang upaya, peserta dari bantuan kemasyarakatan dan Baitul Mal, organisasi dan koperasi serta Perusahaan-perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PKS) sangat dialu-alukan.

Ternakan yang berteknologi tinggi ini boleh dikomersialkan dan ia lebih praktikal, terkawal dan menjimatkan kos serta memberi keuntungan yang besar.

Kaedah ini juga boleh menjimatkan ruang dan hanya memerlukan penggunaan tenaga kerja yang kecil.

Menternak ketam Nipah boleh membantu menambah pendapatan ekonomi keluarga dan memberi peluang pekerjaan kepada anak tempatan.

Penglibatan nelayan tempatan di dalam membekalkan anak-anak ketam boleh menambah penghasilan harian manakala pengusaha PKS juga akan dapat mengembang dan meluaskan perniagaan mereka.

Bayaran bagi setiap pendaftaran mengikuti kursus tersebut sebanyak BND300 setiap seorang manakala bagi mereka yang berminat untuk melanggan set ternakan ketam secara tertutup bolehlah menghubungi syarikat berkenaan.

Para peserta akan diberikan taklimat mengenai ternakan Ketam Nipah secara teori pada hari pertama kursus dan pada hari kedua mereka akan dibawa ke ladang ternakan ketam bagi mempelajari cara-cara ternakan Ketam Nipah secara praktikal.

Di akhir kursus itu nanti, para peserta juga akan diberikan sijil penyertaan oleh Syarikat Golden Crab Enterprise.

Mereka yang berminat untuk menyertai kursus tersebut boleh menghubungi Awang Haji Hasbol Shah bin Rosmali Shah - 8751657, Awang Haji Ramli bin Haji Othman - 8784125, Pengiran Saputra bin Pengiran Bakar - 8813682 dan Awang Hassan bin Haji Mohd. Salleh - 8896687.

(Oleh : Dk. Siti Redzaimi Pg. Haji Ahmad) 

http://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/news/pelita/04jan10/index.htm

Ternakan ketam secara tertutup

Golden Crab Enterprise

   KETAM NIPAH (Scylla serrata)   

- KETAM ADALAH SEJENIS HAIWAN DARI JENIS KRUSTACEA.

- JUGA DIKENALI SEBAGAI KETAM BAKAU ATAU KETAM LUMPUR.

- NAMA SAINTIFIK BAGI KETAM NIPAH ADALAH Scylla serrata.

- HABITAT KETAM INI ADALAH DI KAWASAN PAYA BAKAU BERLUMPUR.

- IA BOLEH DIDAPATI DALAM TIGA WARNA IAITU HIJAU, COKLAT DAN PERANG.

- BOLEH MENCAPAI BERAT SEHINGGA 3 KG.

-MEMBIAK SECARA BERTELUR.

- BERSIFAT KANIBALISMA DAN SEJENIS SPESIES KARNIVOR.

- MEMPUNYAI NILAI YANG TINGGI TERUTAMA DI RESTORAN-RESTORAN MEWAH.

   KELEBIHAN SISTEM TERNAKAN KETAM   

   SECARA TERTUTUP   

- SISTEM YANG BARU DIPERKENALKAN BAGI TERNAKAN KETAM DENGAN   MENGGUNAKAN PROBIOTIK YANG DIGUNAKAN BAGI MENGAWAL MUTU AIR.

- MENYELESAIKAN MASALAH DI DALAM PENTERNAKAN SECARA TRADISIONAL.

- MENGGUNAKAN MODAL YANG RENDAH BAGI MEMULAKAN PROJEK DAN PULANGAN YANG TINGGI BERBANDING PROJEK YANG LAIN.

- MENGGUNAKAN TENAGA KERJA YANG PALING MINIMA.

- MENDAPAT JAMINAN PASARAN DARI PENGANJUR.

- JANGKAMASA YANG PENDEK UNTUK SETIAP TUAIAN

Ketam ‘nipah’ pasaran menggalakkan

Ketam ‘nipah’ pasaran menggalakkan

(Oleh : Dk. Siti Redzaimi Pg. Haji Ahmad)

DALAM kemajuan teknologi hari ini, projek ternakan dan perladangan bukanlah sesuatu yang mustahil lagi.

Dengan menggunakan kepakaran yang ada, seseorang itu sebenarnya dalam diam telah menjadikan gudang di kawasan perindustrian atau rumah kedai dua tingkat sebagai ‘kebun’ atau ‘kolam ikan’ yang mampu menjana pendapatan bulanan puluhan ribu ringgit.

INILAH ketam yang diternak oleh Syarikat Golden Crab Enterprise.

Lebih membanggakan, konsep yang dinamakan ternakan atau pertanian di dalam bangunan turut mewujudkan peluang perniagaan yang lebih luas kepada mereka yang berminat.

Perniagaan yang dipelopori kemudiannya akan dikembangkan lagi dan diperkenalkan kepada orang ramai yang berminat untuk menjadi ahli bagi melahirkan lebih banyak usahawan tani.

Menggunakan konsep serupa, Golden Crab Enterprise yang diusahakan oleh pengusaha tempatan, telah beroperasi sejak setahun lalu, menerajui dalam bidang akuakultur secara tertutup khususnya ternakan ketam dan merupakan pusat ternakan ketam secara tertutup yang pertama di negara ini.

Menurut Pengarah Urusannya, Pengiran Haji Haris bin Pengiran Haji Duraman, bidang ternakan ketam secara tertutup ini boleh menjimatkan kos perbelanjaan dan pengurusannya adalah mudah.

“Sebelum ini, banyak yang tahu ketam hanya boleh didapati dengan cara tradisional iaitu dengan cara ‘membintur’ dan ternakan di dalam kolam sahaja,” katanya.

Tetapi, tambahnya, dengan adanya teknologi baru dan terkini, ketam 'nipah' juga boleh diternak di dalam bangunan dan mempunyai peluang yang tinggi untuk dikomersialkan kerana permintaannya amat tinggi di pasaran.

Ketam nipah juga dikenali sebagai ketam bakau atau ketam lumpur yang boleh didapati dalam tiga warna iaitu hijau, coklat dan perang.

Ketam yang membiak secara bertelur ini boleh mencapai berat sehingga tiga kilogram dan mempunyai nilai yang tinggi terutama sekali di restoran-restoran mewah.

KELEBIHAN

Pengarah Pentadbiran Am dan Setiausaha syarikat berkenaan, Awang Haji Ramli bin Othman turut menerangkan sumber ketam melalui ternakan liar di negara ini adalah sebanyak 40 peratus, 10 peratus adalah dari hasil ternakan kolam dan 50.

Peratus selebihnya adalah merupakan ketam import dari luar negara seperti Thailand, Viet Nam dan Republik Indonesia.

“Golden Crab Enterprise bercita-cita untuk mengambil alih sekurang-kurangnya 40 peratus daripada jumlah peratus import seandainya ternakan ketam nipah secara tertutup ini akan mendapat sambutan yang baik di pasaran negara,” jelasnya.

Beliau berasal dari negara jiran, Malaysia, merupakan rakan kongsi di syarikat berkenaan yang telah memperkenalkan sistem ternakan ketam secara tertutup kepada pengusaha-pengusaha tempatan di negara ini.

Ternakan ketam secara tertutup mempunyai kelebihan kerana ia adalah sistem yang baru diperkenalkan bagi ternakan ketam dengan menggunakan probiotik yang digunakan bagi mengawal mutu air dan menggunakan modal yang rendah bagi memulakan projek dan pulangan yang tinggi berbanding projek yang lain.

Ia juga mengambil jangka masa yang pendek untuk setiap tuaian dan menggunakan tenaga kerja yang paling minima.

Melalui konsep memelihara mengikut kaedah penternakan tertutup yang dikawal dengan baik menerusi sistem perairan yang lebih sistematik, ia adalah penemuan terbaru dalam teknologi pembiakan ketam nipah.

Dengan mempraktikkan kaedah penternakan yang dinamakan Sistem Penternakan Ketam Bersepadu (ICS), baka-baka ketam nipah akan melalui proses pembiakan dengan cara yang lebih moden dan selamat.

Mengikut konsep penternakan terbaru ini, air sisa ternakan akan dikitar semula selepas dibersihkan secara automatik dengan menggunakan teknologi terkini.

Setiap anak ketam yang sudah mencapai berat seratus gram akan ditempatkan di satu ruangan khas dalam setiap petak PVC bagi memastikan pembiakannya lebih cepat dan kami pula dapat memantau proses pembesarannya dengan lebih baik dari sehari ke sehari.

Makanan ketam ternakan adalah ‘Ikan Baja’ kerana ketam merupakan sejenis karnivor yang memerlukan protein yang tinggi.

Terdapat sejumlah 324 unit kotak ternakan yang merupakan tempat tinggal ketam nipah berkenaan selama proses ternakan yang mengambil masa selama 40 hari sehingga proses bersalin kulit.

Ketam mengambil masa lebih kurang enam minit bagi proses bersalin kulit dan kemudiannya badannya (isi) akan menjadi lembut dan ketika itulah, proses pengambilan bagi isi-isi ketam akan dilunaskan.

Ketam-ketam tanpa kulit ini mempunyai nilai yang agak mahal sehingga mencecah BND18 sekilogram jika dibandingkan dengan nilai ketam-ketam yang biasa dijual di pasar-pasar atau kedai-kedai.

Selain kepakaran da lam ternakan ketam nipah, syarikat ini juga mempunyai pengalaman luas dalam bidang akuakultur, latihan dan teknikal serta pengurusan.

BORNEO BULLETIN

click the above title