January 21, 2009

Indian Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has urged the state government to come out with a progressive policy for leasing out land to enable coastal aquaculture enterprises to flourish and boost seafood exports.

MPEDA has proposed to implement a mission mode programme for the development of aquaculture activities in the state over a targeted 20,350 hectares of land.

Currently, Orissa accounts for seafood exports to the tune of Rs 350 crore which is less than five percent of the total exports from India, but this does not give the true picture as the state's potential has not been tapped.

Orissa, though, is considered a major producer of seafood along with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

MPEDA chairman, G. Mohan Kumar said the state government is conducting a survey on identifying suitable one for development and we expect it to be completed soon.

The authority has worked out a vision to increase production of brackish water species to at least one million tonne by the year 2017.

During the year 2007-08, exports of marine products from the country were at 541,710 tonnes at $1,893 million or Rs 750 crore.

Shrimp continued to be the mainstay of exports contributing more than 52 percent of the volume.

Kumar, however, admitted a slump in demand and exports this year on account of the global slowdown adding exports are expected to be in tune of around $1,850 million against a target of crossing $2 billion.