Tourism / Betong’s tilapia nil farming

Chatrudee Theparat

Geographical indication (GI) registration for tilapia nil (Nile tilapia) raised in Betong is proposed in order to help increase its market value to generate more income in local community and also promote its tourism.

Santichai Chongkiatkhachorn, 70, a representative of the fish farming group to raise tilapia nil in Betong district of Yala province, decided to submit the group’s tilapia nil farming for GI registration with a hope that the community can add the fish value to create more income for local people and promote tourism.

Mr Santichai Chongkiatkhachorn, a farmer to raise Nile tilapia in Betong district,Yala

Mr Santichai has raised tilapia nil for 20 years and found a new method to raise tilapia in flowing water. This gives him a new hope to secure his stable future with more incomes after his rubber plantation faced a hard time of rubber low price. Then he decided to shift to tilapia nil farming on two rais in 2007.

He said the water flowing from the San Kala Khiri mountain range is clear, full of minerals and without blue algae, with temperature 17-18 degree, that means tilapia nil from his farm is free from smell of soil. So far, this kind of fish from Betong has get more popular among visitors. The evidence is clear that almost all restaurants in the district have served this fish to the visitors, mainly from Malaysia, with a variety of menu.

“Receiving GI may help add value to the fish and it will help generate more income to my family and the community. The process of GI registration may be followed by this year,” he said.

GI is an internationally recognized certification used to identify a product as originating in the territory of a particular country, region or locality that has unique characteristics, which can increase its market value.

In order to meet GI standard, he needs to raise tilapia nil at least two years per crop in order to make the fish grow to the big size with each of more than three kg. This size offers him business opportunity for sale. Each tilapia nil of 10 kg is worth up to 3,000 baht, however more than three years of farming is needed.

Mr Santichai’s restaurant

To achieve his goal, he decided to borrow 10 million baht from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives to operate tilapia nil farming. Of the total, four million baht was allocated to establish his own restaurant near his home, which is also fish farming site. Currently, his restaurant has become famous among visitors, considered as a place to visit in Betong.

“I had never paid much attention to submit Betong’s tilapia nil farming for GI registration until two crises from a big flood and cement water from neighbor broke out last year, causing damage to 70,000 tilapia nil in farm,” he said.

Water flowing from the San Kala Khiri mountain range is used to raise Nile tilapia in Betong

Currently, he raises 15,000 tilapia nil on three rai for GI standard and 45,000-55,000 fish to be sold and supplied to his restaurant. In addition, there are seven members of the group to raise tilapia nil, with 20-30 tonne aquaculture production.

Somradee Chitchong’s deputy governor for domestic market of Tourism Authority of Thailand, said tilapia nil farming in Betong is an attractive story for tourism. Then, she will put Mr Santicjai’s fish farming at home and restaurant to the route of agriculture tourism in Betong. The agency aims to assist those members of the fish farming group to promote the tilapia nil farming in a bid to strengthen their income earning.

“The agency expected more Thai and foreign visitors to visit Yala province while Betong district is one of the significant tourism destinations that the visitors should add this place to their destination in order to taste tilapia nil menu.”