Government keen on promoting aqua sector: Prathipati Pulla Rao

Kakinada: The State government planned to involve 1000 Farmer Producers Organisations (FPOs) in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries for production of international competitive products, said Agriculture Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao. Inaugurating the three-day aqua conference and exhibition AQUABIZ India-2016, at Sports Stadium here on Saturday, the Minister said that each FPO would consist of 1,000 farmers and a total of 10 lakh farmers would adopt the best practices to enhance the quality of production in agriculture and allied fields.

• The Agriculture Minister inaugurates 3-day aqua conference and exhibition, AQUABIZ-2016
• Says 1,000 FPOs will put in efforts to produce quality products in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries

He further said that the State government signed an agreement with the World Economic Forum for marketing of 25 varieties of products from these sectors. With regard to aquaculture, the Minister said that top priority is given to this sector as the growth rate is 32 percent, whereas the agriculture growth rate was minus 7 per cent.

He said the export of aquaculture products was helping the State earn revenue of Rs 14,000 crore and thus contribute to the nation’s foreign exchange. AP stands first in production and exports of aqua products, the Minister pointed out. “With coastal area extending to 974 km in the State, it is bound to help in increasing aqua production,” he said.

The Minister advised the farmers to make use of the facilities being provided by the government like 50 per cent subsidy on processing units and fishing nets and produce quality products. With regard to budgetary allocations to fisheries sector, Pulla Rao said that Rs 339 crore was allotted in 2016-17 as against Rs 187 crore in 2015-16.

The Minister said that the policies were liberalised for registration, renewal and a special app was created for marketing intervention. Kakainda city MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao said that adopting new methodologies would help the fishermen to produce competitive products at global level.

He requested the Minister to increase the compensation from Rs 2,000 to 4,000 for fishermen during the fishing ban period. Ramshankar Naik, Commissioner of Fisheries, said that 150 FPOs in the field of aquaculture were expected this year and advised the farmers not to use antibiotics and to notify the contents on packing to avoid rejections of consignments by the foreign countries.

ZP Chairman N Rambabu said that aquaculture is the alternative for paddy and advised farmers to follow best practices. Earlier, the Agriculture Minister inaugurated a special expo arranged on technologies, development and opportunities in aqua sector. District Collector H Arun Kumar, APTDC Director S Jyothi Kumar, SBI Regional Manager DSRK Sababa and NABARD AGM RV Reddy were among those present.