January 15, 2007

India tries to cash in on organic shrimp with Swiss help

To cash in on the growing demand for organic shrimp, India has signed up with a Swiss government agency for aid in certification at `Indaqua 2007', a convention showcasing Indian aquaculture last week.

India's Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) for assistance in organic shrimp certification and marketing.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding should allow India to establish its presence in the global organic aquaculture market by the year-end, said Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh,

There is a growing trend in Switzerland and the European Union for more sustainable, environment friendly and healthy products, said Markus Stern, director of SIPPO.

The three-year project would help India tap this market by enforcing international standards and certification, first in the shrimp processing plants, and then in farms and hatcheries, Ramesh said.