Study to breed Turongou fish fed with medicinal plants

What say you on the issue below?

PENAMPANG: A pioneer study on the breeding of local fish Turongou or “spotted barb” is in the pipeline to produce the herb tongkat ali and kacip fatimah Turongou.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the ministry was currently funding a project for the establishment of Turongou hatchery and production facilities in Penampang.

The project, implemented by Innovasi Sedia Sdn Bhd, is currently in its first phase. Its objectives include to preserve the Turongou species known scientifically as puntius binatatu from extinction through a controlled natural breeding system.

The local fish known as Turongou in Kadazandusun, is traditionally found in clean streams and padi fields - but is close to extinction because of the use of pesticides and pollution - causing it to be a highly-priced delicacy, high in nutritional value such as calcium and protein contents.

A close look: Dr Ongkili looking at the controlled breeding system at the project site together with the ministry’s principle assistant secretary Puziah Sulaiman (in yellow baju kurung) and community leaders and the research team members from Innovasi Sedia Sdn Bhd.

“Turongou is a good protein source, and in my view is a superior fish both in taste and nutritional content. The research project will require advanced technical trials to produce large quantity of Turongou ‘pregnant fish’,” Dr Ongkili added during a visit to the project site recently.

Using this innovative technology and management system, the first phase also involves mapping the species from various districts and testing their breeding capability while producing young fingerlings for Turongou fry production.

“The second phase would test the feed formulation for Turongou growth rate using local natural resources while breeding for market Turongou fish filled with roe, like the Japanese shishamo (pregnant fish) delicacy.

“This will move on to the third stage of producing herb-filled Turongou by feeding them with medicinal plants such as tongkat ali,

kacip fatimah, ginger and cinnamon, to produce organic nutritional Turongou as there is certainly a market demand for such delicacy,” he added.

At this stage, the breeding of Turongou would have high potential for commercialisation as an innovative and value-added product that can derive lucrative income for the farmer community in Sabah, especially when properly marketed for local and international consumers.

Dr Ongkili also added that the current project which was given a RM300,000 funding was progressing well and would be further evaluated for the following stages.

The result of the project’s first phase will be known at the end of the year. If successful, the technology will be licensed out for small farmers to apply and coordinated by Innovasi Sedia Sdn Bhd, he said.