January 4, 2008

Indian government to approve white shrimp farming

Indian shrimp farmers believe that the government is likely to approve the cultivation of vannamei or white shrimp to hike production.

According to a representative of the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), a decision is expected as early as this week.

A.J. Tharakan, a member of the board and former national president of SEAI, said the commerce ministry discussed the issue with some exporters last week and has sought the views of the agriculture ministry.

The agriculture ministry appeared to be in favour of introducing the new variety. This will draw the guidelines at this week's meeting of the National Development Fisheries Board (NDFB) Tharakan pointed.

NDFB takes charge of India's fishery resources. It is scheduled to meet in Kochi later this week and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar is said to attend the meeting.

Indian shrimp producers have been looking on white shrimp farming since the total production declined at around 150,000 tonnes annually. The white shrimp is expected to reduce costs and boost production in the country.

Currently, India produces and exports the black tiger variety of shrimps, which incur high costs and low production.