With its vast expertise, CP Cambodia is re-engineering aquaculture farming techniques that – through producing quality products and generating jobs – will boost the rural economy.

CP Cambodia Co Ltd is ramping up its aquaculture expansion in the Kingdom by introducing intensive and high tech farming to serve the rising domestic demand for marine products being driven by a growing population.

But the market remains undersupplied due to declining fish stocks.

The company – a subsidiary of Thai agro-industrial and food business giant CP Foods – is taking a multi-pronged approach to developing a sustainable aquaculture sector supported by modern farming techniques that largely focus on breeding, aqua feed production and species diversification.

CP Cambodia has also set its long-term vision on producing quality marine products for local consumption and exports, contributing to the rural economy by creating increased job opportunities.

CP Foods – the highly diversified Thai conglomerate – began operations in Cambodia in 1996, and in 2019 it ventured into the local aquaculture sector – which is emerging as a sunrise industry.

CP Foods operates in livestock and pig and chicken breeding, and its aquaculture involves shrimp and fish farming.

Its other businesses include the manufacturing of animal feed, as well as meat and food processing.

Siwapon Kangkan, CP Cambodia’s aquaculture business general manager, said: “CP Cambodia has been paying serious attention to enhancing aquaculture production in Cambodia – both in quantity and quality to meet the needs of the local market – and reducing imports.

“The growth of the local aquaculture sector can contribute to Cambodia’s socio-economic development.”

CP Cambodia supplies a wide range of species, including tilapia, redfish, catfish and pangasius djambal, known locally as “pra”.

Cultivation of tilapia is given top priority as the fish is easy for farmers to breed, disease resistant, rich in nutrients, tasty and grows easily in a tropical climate.

Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon said: “Aquaculturists are paying more attention to the implementation of breeding techniques and the expansion of the fish farming business in order to capture and utilise the opportunities [arising following] the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Cambodia’s aqua production jumped from 50,000 tonnes in 2009 to more than 300,000 tonnes in 2019, Sakhon added.

The ministry has set a target of achieving 740,000 tonnes of aquaculture products by 2024, with an average growth of 20 per cent annually.

With its “Kitchen of the World” corporate vision, CP Foods focuses on sustainable development by giving top priority to developing local livelihoods and the environment.

CP Foods’ aquaculture business employs probiotic farming technology, where the utilisation of chemicals is minimised.

A a closed water re-circulation system is implemented in its shrimp farming to save water, prevent possible epidemics and operate in an environmentally friendly manner.

The fish that are farmed are certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council – an independent non-profit organisation.

CP Foods is a pioneer and leader in the production and sale of animal feed, with major feed production including for pigs, chickens, frogs, shrimps and fish.

CP Foods leverages its agro-industrial and food expertise and expands its business in nations with growth opportunities to strengthen food security for the benefit of the country, the people and the company.