PENDANG: Young entrepreneurs have been encouraged to seize opportunities in the freshwater lobster farming industry, given the high demand that remains unmet both domestically and internationally.
The Farmers' Organisation Authority (LPP) chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar said there is currently high demand from several countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia, which cannot be met by local industry players.
"At present, we have around 500 freshwater lobster farmers, but only 50 of them are truly serious. In Singapore alone, I understand that the demand reaches 20 tonnes a week, while in Hong Kong, they are willing to take as much as is available.
"Despite such substantial demand, we are unable to meet even 50 per cent of it. So, I have asked Kedah LPP to identify young people who might be interested in venturing into this industry and to collaborate with existing industry players," he said after a working visit to the Arbaah Freshwater Lobster Farm.
The lobster farm in Kampung Durian, Pendang, is Malaysia's largest freshwater lobster breeding and hatchery centre.
Meanwhile, Arbaah Sdn Bhd managing director Muhammad Firdaus Osman, said the farm can produce four tonnes of freshwater lobsters a month.
"However, this figure is far below the demand as we receive orders from Singapore to supply 20 tonnes of lobsters a month," he said.
He added that Arbaah is also collaborating with several higher education institutions to develop innovations in the field of lobster farming.
"We aim to make lobster farming more appealing to young people through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology," he said.