The frog industry is little known in Ecuador, however it has its international markets identified and its preferences fully established, between the export of live frogs for pets and amphibians for human consumption.
According to Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control Agency (Agrocalidad)there are two companies operating in the country that are dedicated to this industry.
In the case of live frogs for consumption, there is the Association of Agricultural Producers Piuntza-Nankais, from Zamora Chinchipe; while the market for live frogs for commercial use is occupied by the company Oophaga of Pichincha with its commercial name Wikiri.
export frogs
According to figures from Agrocalidad, in 2021 they exported 195,000kg of live frogs for consumption, 25% more than what was sent in 2020, which were 156,000 kg.
Meanwhile, for commercial use they were sent 329 units; 111 frogs less than in 2020 when they were exported 440 units.
María Dolores Guarderas, representative of Wikiri, which exports 41 species of Ecuadorian amphibians since 2010, assured that exports have contracted by 50% in relation to 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the logistics crisis.
Guarderas explained that Wikiri is a sustainable biotrade company for amphibians, which are reproduced in laboratories and farms using cutting-edge technology.
The objective is to obtain financial resources independently and permanently to finance the conservation and research that is carried out by the Jambatu Center, Wikiri’s amphibian research and conservation center.
The company’s main markets are United States, Europe, Canada, Japan and South Korea. However, Guarderas pointed out that currently they can only export to the US, since the frequency of flights is greater to that destination, specifically to Miami.
However, the decline in submissions does not stop the Wikiri project. Guarderas assured that they hope to open next April the most important and largest permanent exhibition of amphibians in the world, which will be called Wikiri Sapoparque, which will combine five elements: science, conservation, biotrade, biotechnology and environmental education.
“We intend that society, far from these areas of knowledge, soak up in a playful way the fundamental concepts that characterize Ecuador: biodiversity and conservation, through one of the most charismatic groups of animals: amphibians,” explained Guarderas, who He announced that these resources will be added to those from exports and will serve to finance conservation and research projects on toads and frogs.
Meanwhile, in the export segment for consumption, according to the Provincial Government of Zamora Chinchipe, Asopiunanks was created in 1995 and currently exports around 6,000 pounds of frogs a week, that is, 24,000 pounds per month, also to USA
Absalón Campoverde, governor of Zamora Chinchipe, visited Asopiunanks to learn about the procedure that is carried out from the beginning to the packaging, so that the product is ready for export.
“We have spoken with them, in order to continue providing technical support from Agrocalidad, because as the national government we are supporting all entrepreneurs,” Campoverde said.
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Agrocalidad stated that with the companies Wikiri and Asopiunanks, it carries out a zoosanitary control of both the farms to obtain their registration as exporters of animals or livestock merchandise, as well as centers of possession and management of wild fauna, which allows compliance with the established requirements. by the Veterinary Service of the destination country.
The agency confirmed that as live frogs, Ecuador has multiple markets that can be accessed, such as Canada, Denmark, Spain, the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
With regard to live frogs for consumption, the market that can be accessed is the United States.
In the case of the United States, according to Héctor Valdivieso, provincial director of Agrocalidad de Zamora Chinchipe, this country requests animal health inspection, which consists of checking that they are completely healthy, that there are no other species, that they are not mistreated and that there are no alterations in the animals.
Once all these parameters are met, they are certified so that they can enter international markets. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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