The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Lifeline for shrimp farming sector

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Monday, Nov 24, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Lifeline for shrimp farming sector

Special Correspondent

Disease-free shrimp seed production centre to revive the sector that suffered a setback

Construction of the Rs. 30 crore centre to start in two months
White prawn, which has demand in European market, to be promoted

HYDERABAD: The National Fisheries Development Board is setting up a multiplication centre for disease-free shrimp seed production in Srikakulam to revive the shrimp farming sector that suffered a setback due to the outbreak of viral diseases.

MoU signed

Disclosing this to mediapersons here on Thursday, NFDB Chief Executive P. Krishnaiah said that an MoU was signed between NFDB and Moana Technologies India (Private ) Ltd., a joint venture company comprising Moana Hong Kong Ltd and two local companies to develop specific pathogen free shrimp seed with a production capacity of three billion post larvae per year for distribution to 1.5 lakh shrimp farmers in India.

The construction of the Rs. 30 crore centre to come up in 100 acres at Mulapolam village in Sompeta mandal of Srikakulam district would start in two months, he said.

Mr. Krishnaiah said that NFDB, in association with Coastal Aquaculture Authority, Marine Products Export Development Authority and Central Institute of Brackish water Aquaculture was setting up a Rs. 2 crore Aquatic Animal Quarantine facility at Chennai for regulated import of L. Vannamei brood stock, popularly called as white prawn, to promote it in place of ‘Black Tiger’ variety as it would be economical and more in demand in the European market.

Future plans

With a budget of Rs. 1,500 crore for the next four years, NFDB charted out plans to focus on fisheries development in reservoirs, intensive aquaculture in ponds and tanks, deep sea fishing and tuna processing through technology, subsidies.

“We hope to increase fish production from 6.5 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes by 2012 and exports to touch Rs. 15,000 crore from the present Rs. 8,500 crore.

To increase create awareness about rich nutritional value of fish, National Fish Festival would be organised in January, he added.

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