FINFISH PRODUCTION STATUS OF CHIANGMAI PROVINCE, NORTHERN THAILAND Thepparath Ungsethaphand 1, Prachaub Chaibu 1 and Sudpranee Maneesri 2

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2 FINFISH PRODUCTION STATUS OF CHIANGMAI PROVINCE, NORTHERN THAILAND Thepparath Ungsethaphand 1, Prachaub Chaibu 1 and Sudpranee Maneesri 2 1 Department of Fisheries Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Production, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand Department of Accounting, Faculty of Accountancy Finance and Banking, Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand Abstract The objectives of this research were to survey on fish culture condition and marketing of freshwater fish in Chiangmai province, the northern Thailand. This research will lead to set up the desire research in order to develop the freshwater industry in Chiangmai. For production research, the questionnaires were contributed to two groups of fish farmers including 49 fish farmers who raise Tilapia and Tuptim (Red Tilapia) in cages and 62 fish farmers who raise monoculture tilapia and tilapia with broiler chicken (integrated system) in earthen pond. For marketing research, samples of the survey were from 100 retailers and 111 customers in local markets located in 11 cities in Chiangmai. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS for windows version The result showed the cost and profit for tuptim raising in cages were higher than tilapia due to higher cost in fingerling stocks. According to the fish cultivation in earthen ponds, the monoculture system provided the higher cost than the integrated system. Because the commercial feed cost are much higher in monoculture system. However, The return for monoculture cultivation was higher than the one from integrated system because of the deteriorated water quality and the smaller stocking sizes. These poor water quality cause fish off-feed and grow slower leading to lower return. Referring to data analysis on marketing survey, more than 50% of fish were transferred from other provinces. Five first favorite freshwater fish consumption are tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), snakehead (Channa striata), hybrid catfish(clarias macrocephalus x Clarias gariepinus), tuptim or red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), and giant catfish (Pangasias hyopthalnus). The freshwater fish culture in Chiangmai has sufficient potential to grow if there is some improvement in production technique. Introduction Chiangmai province is the center of economy of the upper northern region and population has huge purchasing power. In the present time, fish are popular for consumers due to great taste and high nutritional values. Therefore, fish, an agricultural product have enough potential to grow in the market. Chiangmai Aquacultural Cooperative (CMA Co-op) reported that demand for freshwater fish in Chiangmai, amounting to 40,000 kg. /day. Consequently, some freshwater fish had been taken from other provinces. Particularly, Sex reversal Tilapia had been drawn from Chiangrai. Finally, the fish farmers in Chiangmai had lost the opportunity of earning their incomes. Brumet (2000) points out the profits from inland aquaculture depend on the situations of market and the availability of production technology. Importantly, the farmers have to produce fish consonant with the demand of market. Hence, the purpose of this research is to investigate the situations of market and the attitudes of the freshwater fish retailers and consumers in Chiangmai. Research Methods Data were collected from the questionnaires from October to November Sampling procedure was conducted with the multistage sampling. Firstly, For production research, the questionnaires were contributed to two groups of fish farmers including 49 fish farmers (cage culture in Ping river) who raise Tilapia and Tuptim (Red Tilapia) as well as 62 fish farmers who raise monoculture tilapia and others who raise tilapia with broiler chicken (integrated

3 system). For marketing research, the purposive sampling was utilized. The representatives of local markets in 11 districts of Chiangmai including Muang, Sansai, Sankumphaeng, Mae Taeng, Phrao, Saraphi, Chiang Dao, Hangdong, San Patong, Mae Rim and Doisaket, were selected. Secondly, the simple random sampling was conducted by giving out the questionnaires to 2 groups of 100 freshwater fish retailers and 111 consumers. The quantity of the respondents in each district was determined by the proportion of the quantitative data and the kinds of fish sold in the fresh markets of each district.. The data analysis were processed by using the SPSS (9.05). The Results 1. Fish production. 1.1 The cost of tilapia and tuptim in Cage culture Production. The result showed the cost and profit for tuptim raising in cages were higher than the ones for tilapia raising in cages due to higher cost in fingerling stocks. There are no different between tilapia and tuptim average production costs (Table 1). 1.2 The cost of monoculture and integrated tilapia in earthern pond Production. According to the fish cultivation in earthen ponds, the monoculture system provided the higher cost than the integrated system. Because the commercial feed cost are much higher in monoculture system. Tilapia monoculture get more return and profit than integrated culture with broiler chicken because of the deteriorated water quality and the smaller stocking sizes (Table 2). Table 1 Costs and returns for cage culture Tilapia and Tubtim (Baht/m2/Crop) Category Tilapia Tubtim 1. RETURNS 2, , VARIABLE COSTS Fingerling Feed 1, , Electricity Family labor Others Interest on Operating Capital 3. FIXED COSTS Depreciation Interest TOTAL COSTS 2, , NET RETURNS Table 2 Costs and returns for Tilapia farm (Baht/Rai/Crop) Category Monoculture Integreated 1. RETURNS 70, , VARIABLE COSTS Seed 1, , Feed 24, , Electricity Fuel Fertilizer , Chemical Hire Labor 1, , Family labor 5, , Others 2, , Interest on Operating Capital 3. FIXED COSTS 1, Opportunity Cost 2, , Depreciation 1, , Interest 1, , TOTAL COSTS 43, , NET RETURNS 26, ,595.06

4 2.Fish consumption and marketing situations. 2.1 The Patterns of Freshwater Fish Retailers Five first popular kinds of freshwater fish are tilapia, hybrid catfish, snakehead, tuptim and giant catfish, respectively (Figure 1). The patterns of purchasing and selling each kind of fish are different. Tilapia, tuptim and snakehead are usually purchased and sold on their weight. For example, tilapia and tuptim with grams weight are popular in the fish market while snakehead with one kg. weight are always in demand. For hybrid catfish and giant catfish, their sizes do not matter to consumer desire. Types of fish Volumn of fishes sale Snakehead 21% Giant catfish 2% Tilapia 31% Snakehead 16% Giant catfish 1% Tilapia 33% Hybrid catfish Hybrid catfish 28% Tubtim 18% 30% Tubtim 20% Figure 1 Freshwater Fish Types and Supply in Chiangmai during study period. 2.2 Sources of Fish Due to the demand for freshwater fish in Chiangmai has exceeded supply, the suppliers have taken freshwater fish from other provinces, particularly the provinces in the central part of Thailand. Suphanburi, Nakorn Sawan and Pisanulok are the important source of freshwater fish. At the same time, Chiangrai is the main sources of tilapia. The advantages of these sources are low price, good provisions of fish, good personal relationship with suppliers, credit offer policies from suppliers, and high quality of fish. Discussions The cost and profit of cages culture tuptim were higher than tilapia due to the higher cost in fingerling stocks. According to the fish cultivation in earthen ponds, the monoculture system provided the higher cost than the integrated system. Because the commercial feed cost are much higher in monoculture system while this cost can be reduced when using integrated system since broiler chicken by products can be used as supplemental feed for fish. However, The return for monoculture cultivation was higher than the one from integrated farming because of the deteriorated water quality and the smaller stocking sizes. This poor water quality causes fish off-feed and grow slower leading to lower return. For this reason, it is difficult to predict the production and causes difficulty in marketing management. Price is a main problem for the retailers. Fisheries statistic analysis and Research Sector (2003) indicates that the price of fish in Chiangmai is higher than that in other provinces. To reduce the cost production is an outstanding way of the marketing competition. Thepparat et al. (2002) found that integrated fish- broiler chicken farmers in Chiangmai usually fed fish by using commercial feed pellets for the reason that they require to reduce the production period. Since feeding fish by commercial feed pellets is costly, tilapia fish farmers should manipulate nutrients in pond to enhance natural feed for fish. This method will reduce the feeding cost. Good personal relationship between fish farmers in other provinces and the retailers is another problem. CMA Co-op suggests that the fish retailers in Chiangmai should be memberships of CMA Co-op for increasing their familiarity. The demand for freshwater fish in Chiangmai has exceeded supply. The retailers have to take them from other provinces, such as Chiangrai and some provinces in northern

5 and central parts of Thailand. Therefore, the investment in the freshwater industry has enough potential to grow if there is an adjustment and improvement in production techniques. Acknowledgements The funding of this study was provided by grants from the Thailand Research Fund (TRF-maejo-PDG45N0008). We thank to the staff at the Chiangmai Aquacultural Cooperation who helped to collect samples. References Brummett, R.E., Factors influencing fish price in Southern Malawi. Aqaculture 186, Fisheries Statistic Analysis and Research Secter Freshwater Aquaculture Statisic year Department of Fisheries. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative. 65 p.(in Thai) Ungsethaphand T., Punthiwong S.,Chaipinta S., Chaibu P., Maneesri S., and Umpaipong R Production and Marketing Problem of Freshwater Fish Management in Chiang Mai Province. Final report, TRF(maejo). 84 p.(in Thai)