CPF to invest in aquafeed production in the Philippines

Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), Thailand''s largest agribusiness, is investing PHP2.36 billion (US$50.9 million) into aquafeed production in Capas, Tarlac, Philippines, in order to boost the country''s shrimp production.

The Board of Investments (BOI) has granted incentives to CPF Philippines Corp. for its aqua feed mill plant located on an eight to 10-hectare area along the town''s national highway. The facility has four production lines, power lines, abundant underground water and an annual capacity of 114,000 tonnes.

CPF Philippines will produce fish and shrimp feeds in various forms (pelletised, crumbled and extruded) by using the latest machineries and equipment acquired from China and Europe. These include control centres equipped with modern computers and programmable logic control (PLC) programmes, extruders, pelletisers, pulverisers, hammermills and crumbling machines. The site will also have its own raw material and finished feeds warehouses and waste disposal system.

The project will employ 209 people and will start commercial operation in January 2011.

This project is one of major investments of CPF in the Philippines. CPF also plans to set up a shrimp feed mill in Cebu with a production capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year.

The company also plans a pig-farming operation also in Luzon where it will start raising 1,200 pedigree animals, eventually leading to 10,400 breeding pigs.

The fish feed mill in Tarlac is viewed as a boost to the tremendous potential of aquatic production in the country and the revival of the shrimp industry.