Fish feed factory in Hermel

Mechanical and Electrical Equipment and Systems (MEES International) will start operating a factory in Hermel this month for the production of fish feed under the brand name ‘Dr. Feed'.

Malaz Janbay, General Manager of the factory, said: “There is a large demand for local fish feed by farmers who raise trout in the Assi River, especially since farmers import it at high prices.”

The total built-up area of the factory is 1,000 square meters (m2). It has capacity to produce around 1,500 tons of feed per year. Janbay said that it is the only factory that will produce fish food locally.

According to Janbay, the production of trout in the Assi River reached 1,000 tons per year in the last few years, a decrease from 2,500 tons in 2008. “We aim to increase production to 10,000 tons per year, if we were able to market the farmers’ produce,” he said.

MEES International will also help farmers to market their produce in Beirut and the South. It has already signed contracts with trade companies for this purpose.

The factory was built by Hermel Municipality in the year 2,000. MEES International rehabilitated the factory and will operate it for ten years under a renewable contract. Janbay said that investment in the project is $1 million.

Each ton of fish food will cost $1,500.