The impact of early mortality syndrome (EMS) disease on farmed shrimp production, as well as the effects of dry weather on rice, fruit, cassava and other crops, is expected to reduce Thailand’s farm economic growth forecast for 2013 to 1.1% from the 3.5% to 4.5% range previously projected, according to the Office of Agriculture Economics (OAE).
Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlaemthong identified EMS as the primary factor in the 7.2% contraction in output from the nation’s fisheries sector, reported the Bangkok Post on December 2. The disease is said to have cut Thailand’s shrimp production in half this year, to 300,000 tons.
Anan Lila, secretary-general of OAE, expressed confidence that shrimp aquaculture in Thailand will resume normal levels in 2014. The nation’s Fisheries Department is working closely with shrimp farmers to implement measures – among them pond clean-ups and careful scrutiny of broodstock imports – which should see the sector post growth rates of 2.2% to 3.2% next year.
