By PRUDENCE AUVITA IPAPE
EXPORTING of mud crabs is a big industry and it has the potential to generate revenue for the country if more attention and support is given to it, says Bernard Magaru, Managing Director of Grankle Seafood Marketing.
Grankle Seafood Marketing (GSM) is a local group created to farm mud crabs and other seafood to help mothers sell and export their catch.
Grankle Seafood Marketing Operations Manager Gabriel Apita (left) and Managing Director Bernard Magaru (right) speaking on the mud crab export market. Photo: Sunday Bulletin
Mr Magaru said exporting of mud crabs is rare in the country but farming it is not so hard and can be an easy way for us to train mothers in the village to farm mud crabs, at the same time learn how to conserve the inhabitants as well as the mud crabs so that this business lasts.
“We are taking an initiative to train mothers in the village to farm crabs without damaging the environment and making sure the crabs are graded and fit for export. All mothers need to be trained on how to cultivate without damaging the mangroves and the crabs must be healthy and edible weighing 1kg and above to meet international markets.”
So far three trials have been done already and points of farms set up in Daru, Gulf, Manus, Kavieng, Bougainville and Central to start farming for the mud crabs.
Mr Gabriel Apita operations manager for GSM added that, “in 2014 GSM did their first export of 200kg but was unfortunate because we were not properly trained and our mud crabs lacked quality so we got a dissatisfying result on our income. However, we are now fully trained and are ready to export only the best to meet international standards.”
GSM and its committees are now set to farm for the crabs to export mid this year (2021) having three potential international markets connected; Singapore, New Zealand and China. The demand is starting to be high and so proper equipment and strategies need to be deployed.
“The market will increase every year leaving us with a greater responsibility that will require proper instruments like mud crabs farm baskets to help us increase production and quality. Although we are using traditional instruments to make farms we still lack the essentials that would make this business flourish,” Mr Apita said.
“The pilot project in Kairuku is already up and ready to be launched in February. The transit site is in Port Moresby where mud crabs are shipped in from other provinces are kept here before being exported.”
The GSM committee is urging the government to look into this matter in helping them fund the project sites. This is the hope of PNG mothers within the Maritime provinces of this country which will be beneficial.
Mr Magaru shared similar sentiments that GSM has all the criteria’s needed to meet international market standards and can be able to produce excellent qualities.
“However we need funds to purchase proper equipment that are needed for the best quality and quantity to be exported. We urge the members of parliament and the government to help our local market to make it to international standards for our mothers as well as the country,” Mr Magaru reiterated.