Prawn production back on track

The harvest and export of crustaceans, which include that of prawns, have doubled at the end of the second quarter of production for this year, compared to the whole of last year.

According to the Production Indicators released for production period of April up to June, 516.6 tonnes of crustaceans have been harvested compared to 234.2 tonnes for the whole of last year, hence representing an increase of 397%. The export of crustaceans stood at 391.7 tonnes compared to 182.2 tonnes for last year, reflecting an increase of 482%.

The figures are also the highest for the quarterly production and annual yield over last two years.  

The production of canned tuna has also gone up by 27% with 10,550 tonnes but that of the other processed tuna has dropped by 68% with 334 tonnes.

1,130 tonnes of fish were landed during the second quarter of this year, reflecting a decrease of 16% compared to the same period of last year. With regards to manufactures increases have been recorded in compound animal feed, soap and paint. Compound animal feel went up by 11% with the production of 5,397 tonnes, while paints and allied products rose by 42%. An increase of 57% was recorded in soap production.

For canned and dairy products, the production of squash shot up by 224% while fruit juices rose by 33%. Jam production also increased by 80%. Decreases for the second quarter of this year are seen in the production of milk, yoghurt and sauces. Milk production fell by 20%, sauces by 23% and yoghurt by 16%.

Compared to the same period of last, cigarette production has seen a major rise by 456%.

With regards to beverages, the production of beer and stout went up by 19%, while mineral water showed a 5% increase. The production of soft drinks, however decreased by 16%.

The throughput of cattle at Le Rocher and the abattoirs on Praslin increased by 16%, but that of pigs and chickens decreased by 18% and 1% respectively compared to the same period of last year.

The figures for crop production indicate an increase of 40% in the output of copra for the second quarter of this year, with 58.8 tonnes.  However, decreases were recorded in the production of cinnamon bark which saw only 8 tonnes exported, representing a decrease of 86% and green leaf tea  production which went down by 10%.

The total consumption of treated water on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue increased by 5%. Compared to last year, treated water on Praslin alone went up by 17%, La Digue 16% and Mahe 3%.

According to the statistics published increase of 3% was recorded in electricity production, reflecting a rise by 3% for Mahe and 9% for Praslin.

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