Enrolment cards for aqua farms, hatcheries

To ensure traceability, good quality and meet global norms

To ensure traceability and good quality, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has decided to issue enrolment cards for export-oriented aquaculture farms and hatcheries, said P. Anil Kumar, Joint Director, MPEDA. The card is like a Master Card with a QR code carrying basic information about the farmer and the farm coordinates. Most farms are geo-tagged and enrolled and the MPEDA is extending a free service. “The digitalisation is aimed at tracing the produce from farm to the plate for the exported farmed shrimp,” he said. Important countries in the EU and the U.S. prefer traceability. The Seafood Import Monitoring Programme (SIMP) recently announced by the U.S. government is mandatory from January 1, 2019 and requires traceability. Enrolment will ensure smooth exports of cultured shrimp. In Andhra Pradesh, 34,172 farmers operating in 47,444 hectares have enrolled so far. The officials have asked the remaining farmers to register by August 31.