NEW TECHNOLOGY DETECTS EARLY MORTALITY SYNDROME IN SHRIMPS
THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) has developed a technology to detect acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) or early mortality syndrome in shrimp.
The technology is an output of a project funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
APHND is caused by vibrio parahaemolyticus, a pervasive bacterium that thrives in marine waters. This disease causes lethargy, an empty stomach, a pale hepatopancreas or digestive gland, and an empty midgut. The disease has caused major economic loss in cultured shrimp production in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, and the Philippines.
In the Philippines, the disease is detected in Bataan, Bulacan, Cebu, Bohol, Sarangani, and General Santos. In one site in nurseries, it should encourage private entrepreneurs to do the commercial production. What the government could do is to give the private sector access to mother trees for multiplication.
Linking the farmers to the right market once they have made their harvests is very important. Before that, the experts should also train the farmers on proper postharvest procedures to make sure their products meet not only local, but also export standards. Bataan, 73% of farms were found positive with AHPND.
The technology addresses the need of Filipino shrimp farmers for a diagnostic testing kit that can provide results instantly as outsourced diagnostics are not time-efficient. Moreover, available test products are expensive, have low accuracy, and are difficult to use.
To detect AHPND, a prototype diagnostic kit and heat block using loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was produced and tested. The special polymerase allows amplification within an hour at one temperature. The technology is easy to set up, use, and is also not expensive at R300 per set.
Compared with a wide array of detection methods in the market, LAMP is more advantageous in terms of cost, field applicability, visual detection, and ease of operation. Whether it is roadmap for rice, mango, or some other farm produce, including livestock and fisheries, there should be adequate interest of the government to implement the roadmap in a sustained manner. So let’s take stock of the roadmaps that have been crafted and decide how they could be implemented in a way that will assure inclusive growth. The welfare of the poor farmers has to be included in the agenda.– ZBS