Write an article about Mountain spring the secret to this village’s shellfish success .Organize the content with appropriate headings and subheadings (h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6), Retain any existing tags from Prawn farmer Yusni Dahalan’s family was among the first to farm giant freshwater prawns using mountain spring water 25 years ago. (Bernama pic)
IPOH: Nestled against the scenic Bintang Hijau range, Kampung Klian Gunung in Ijok, Perak is gaining attention for its sweet, mud-free giant prawns – farmed in mountain-fed ponds that have become a vital source of income for a handful of villagers.
Although farmed, seafood lovers say these freshwater crustaceans – popularly known as blue claw prawns or “si jenggo” – taste just as good as their wild counterparts. Sweet and free from any muddy aftertaste, their exceptional quality has stirred curiosity about the farmers’ secret.
According to them, there isn’t one – just the use of fresh mountain spring water, channelled directly from a 300m-high waterfall into their ponds.
Using PVC and polyethylene pipes, oxygen-rich water from Lata Puteh is channelled into the ponds, creating an ecosystem similar to the prawns’ natural habitat.
“The water from Lata Puteh naturally contains oxygen thanks to the waterfall splashes. This is a big advantage – it saves costs since there’s no need to install water wheels or electric pumps to oxygenate the ponds,” prawn farmer Yusni Dahalan told Bernama.
Yusni is able to harvest 700kg of prawns per cycle, which are sold directly to customers in Perak and neighbouring states at RM80 per kg. (Bernama pic)
The 48-year-old has been in the business for six years, having inheriting the trade from his family, who was among the first to farm giant freshwater prawns using mountain spring water 25 years ago.
He explained that a lack of piped water at the time led them to use mountain water. “We knew giant prawns fetched high prices, which motivated us to start farming them.
“But back then, our village didn’t have piped water; we depended on the waterfall for daily use. That’s when the idea to use it for the ponds came about,” he said.
Located about 25km from the small town of Selama, Kampung Klian Gunung is considered a rural area that has largely been untouched by modernisation. Its pristine natural environment remains intact, making it a noteworthy agrotourism spot in Perak.
The father of four currently manages eight ponds, each measuring 650 sq m and capable of housing around 10,000 prawns at a time.
Visitors are welcome to experience the thrill of prawn fishing for themselves, and can even enjoy their catch thanks to Yusni’s cooking services. (Bernama pic)
“We purchase 40-day-old juvenile prawns from a hatchery in Manjung and place them in each pond, allowing them to grow until they reach maturity at around five to six months, with each prawn averaging over 18cm in length.
“We feed the prawns with specially formulated feed three times a day, about 1.2kg per pond daily. This amount increases monthly as they grow,” said the Selama resident.
Yusni can harvest over 700kg of prawns per cycle, which are sold directly to customers in Perak and neighbouring states at RM80 per kg.
“Demand is very high, which is why I still haven’t been able to expand to more distant markets,” he noted.
He also offers prawn fishing activities for those who wish to experience catching “si jenggo” themselves. For RM15 per hour, Yusni opens his ponds for this activity on Tuesdays to Sundays from 4pm-11pm.
Additionally, he provides cooking services for the prawns that are caught, offering dishes such as prawn noodle soup and curry noodles.
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