Earn a Profitable Business thorough Entrepreneurship in Fisheries sector says Chalasani Bhaskar, Founder, Dhakshhin Agropolis Ltd, Andhra Pradesh

Dhakshhin Agropolis Ltd is an Agriculture and Fisheries small farmer services and farmer Producer Organizations promoting Institution. They are involved in F.a.a.S (Farming as a service) P.a.a.S (Processing as a Service) I.a.a.S (Infra as a Service) M.a.a.S (Marketing as a Service )for Farmers /Fishermen, Retailers, e tailers, B2B, B2C firms and private Labels. Chalasani Bhaskar Founder, Dhakshhin agropolis Ltd had an in depth discussion at an invited webinar of Sher-E- Kashmir university of Agricultural Sciences and technology and he also shared with Agriculture World the same.

Fishing is the capture of aquatic organisms in marine, coastal and inland areas. Marine and inland fisheries, together with aquaculture, provide food, nutrition and a source of income to around 820 million people around the world, from harvesting, processing, marketing and distribution. The importance of fish and its many associated products for:

• Food security and nutrition.

• Economic growth through fish production and trade.

• Poverty alleviation and the creation of employment opportunities in rural areas.

Fisheries in India & Need

Indian fisheries and aquaculture is an important sector of food production providing nutritional security, besides livelihood support and gainful employment to more than 14million people, and contributing to agricultural exports. With diverse resources ranging from deep seas to lakes in the mountains and more than 10% of the global biodiversity in terms of fish and shellfish species, the country has shown continuous and sustained increments in fish production since independence. The total fish production during 2017-18 is estimated to be 12.6 million metric tonnes, of which nearly 65% is from inland sector and about 50% of the total production is from culture fisheries, and constitutes about 6.3% of the global fish production.

He also goes on to explain India’s 739 landscapes and its unlimited potential, opportunities & possibilities in its Three agro-ecological regions. The Mid-High Altitude Temperate Zone consists of namely the Kashmir Valley covering ten districts of Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, Pulwama, Kupwara, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Bandipora and Shopian. This region experiences an average annual precipitation of 660mm with mean temperature around 130Cand the altitude ranging between 1500-2500 m. The Cold-Arid region namely Ladakh, the districts of Leh and Kargil which are cold desert with precipitation only around 90-275mm and altitude above 2000 m. India has a vast 7500 KM of Marine coast too. He also reiterates us that Fisheries is included in the Goal 14 of UN Sustainable Developmental Goals.

Entrepreneurship and Purpose

The activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit is called Entrepreneurship. There are four distinct types of entrepreneurial organizations; small businesses, scalable startups, large companies and social entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurship definition is about transforming the world by solving problems. Like initiating social change, creating an innovative product or presenting a new life-changing solution. Solving the needs of the society sustainably, inclusively and mindfully.

Covid World and Paradigm changes in the world also have put Necessary regulations and social compliance for entrepreneurs. The UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) are a set of six principles that provide a global standard for responsible investing as it relates to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors:

1. We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.

2. We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.

3. We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.

4. We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.

5. We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.

6. We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.

Exploring opportunities in Fisheries

Bhaskar says to Evaluate the agro-ecological conditions in the Tri-regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Identify local / indigenous species or species that can adapt to the local conditions. Discover ESG, then, diagnose, design, develop deploy anddeliver the solutions by preparing a project report for financing .Designing market and supply chain needs - Vocal for local

Key Segments of the supply chain are

- Hatcheries - SPF

- Grow-out models (Rivers (Cage), Ponds, Indoor / Outdoor / RAS / Intensive / Semi Intensive models with ESG compliances

- Feed (Formulated, Algal etc) & Feeding for optimal FCR and FCE

- Harvesting models (Mechanical) and logistics

- Post harvest processing (Fresh, Chilled, Semi processed, processed)

- B2C (Establish retail shops with infra for fresh fish) and B2B (transport to rest of India

- Air lift - Cargo planes or Passenger planes)

- Skilling and Training

Note: Below water creatures live, eat and shit in the same water and hence water management is key to the success (Real time cost effective viable IOT’s are available in market to monitor the water for management) Very very important he says Water Management, feed management and processing of nitrates.

Entrepreneurial Value Model

The key to success is causing value to consumers, society and nation through engineering by way of Creation, Function and Proposition