Union Minister Urges Exporters to Ensure Availability of Shrimp in Domestic Market

Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, called on Monday for an adequate supply of shrimp in the domestic market. According to him, the majority of the shrimp produced in India is exported. The stakeholders were responsible for ensuring that 50-60% of the shrimp produced in the country was sold on the domestic market.

The Union Minister was at the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) in Chennai to launch the National Surveillance Programme on Fish Diseases Phase 2 and the Genetic Improvement Programme of Indian White Shrimp (panaeus indicus).

Rupala stated that the surveillance programme was implemented to reduce farmers' economic losses and drug expenditure. It would also help to boost exports. "Right now, we export to 120 countries and are one of the top five fish exporters," he added.

On the Genetic Improvement Programme of Indian White Shrimp (panaeus indicus), he stated that relying on only one species of shrimp was risky, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted on introducing another. Indian white shrimp, a native species, was available in the wild. The program's goal would be to collect healthy shrimp and develop pathogen-free seeds. Farmers would begin receiving improved seeds in the second year of the five-year programme, he said.

Despite the pandemic, aquaculture exports from India increased by 30%, according to Union Minister of State for Fisheries L. Murugan. It is worth more than Rs 44,000 crore. He stated that tenders had been issued for the development of the Kasimedu Fishing Harbour in Chennai, with work totaling Rs 120 crore.

In terms of the seaweed park, he stated that Rs 1,056 crore had been allocated for the project, which had received approval. A total of 682 deep-sea fishing vessels were sanctioned, with a 60% subsidy provided to those in the SC/ST and women categories. Union Fisheries Secretary Jithendra Nath Swain stated that Rs 33.4 crore had been set aside for the three-year surveillance programme. It would aid the industry in identifying, isolating, and treating the source of shrimp diseases.

Shrimp production and export from Tamil Nadu increased from 47,865 tonnes in 2011-12 to 1,62,838 tonnes in 2021-22, according to State Fisheries Secretary A. Karthik. In monetary terms, this represents a 10-year increase from Rs 2,262 crore to Rs 9,542 crores.

J.K. Jena, DDG (Fisheries Science), ICAR, New Delhi, was present, as was J. Balaji, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries), Union Department of Fisheries.