Odisha achieves record seafood exports growth

Bhubaneswar: Encouraged by a record 26 percent growth in seafood exports to Rs.2,300 crore during 2014-15, the Odisha government has set an ambitious target to increase the exports of marine products to Rs.10,000 crore in the next three years.

"We have set a target to increase the fish export to Rs.10,000 crore in the next three years from the present Rs.2,300 crore," said Fisheries and Animal Resources Development secretary Bishnupada Sethi adding that the state's growth in seafood exports was the highest in the country.

In 2013-14, the state earned Rs.1,800 crore from export of marine products, said Sethi.

Odisha achieved a record growth of around 13 percent in fish production during 2014-15 at 4.67 lakh tonnes against 4.13 lakh tonnes in 2013-14.

The secretary said shrimp farmers in the state were now keen to take up the cultivation of L. Vannamei culture due to market demand and due to better yield compared with P. Monodon shrimp.

"Looking at the farmers' interest in shifting towards high yield culture, the state government has taken steps to encourage the cluster approach by providing dedicated electricity feeders and approach roads to these clusters," said Sethi.

The Odisha government has identified 107 aquaculture clusters for infrastructure development in the areas. In a recent meeting, Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati directed officials concerned to develop fishery clusters in the state and increase production by 20 percent in the coming year.

Meanwhile, Worldfish, a global aquaculture and genetic improvement organization based in Penang, Malaysia, has evinced interest in partnering with the government to boost fish production in the state. The organization proposed to use 'genetically improved farm tilapia' (GIFT) mode to enhance fish production in the state.