March 21, 2008

Indian shrimp hatchery to provide India with pathogen-free shrimp

A multi-million shrimp seed multiplication centre is being established to produce Pathogen-free shrimp seeds, according to the Press Information Bureau of the government of India.

An agreement for the above project was signed between the National Fisheries Development Board and M/s Moana Technologies, Hong Kong at New Delhi in the presence of Shri Sharad Pawar, Union Minister for Agriculture. The Minister is also the Chairman of Governing Body of National Fisheries Development Board.

The Multiplication Centre will be established in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh with technology from M/s Moana Technolgies Hong Kong.

The hatchery is expected to produce genetically improved shrimp, SPF-shrimp, and about three billion post-larvae at full capacity in about three years.

Indian shrimp farming, based mainly on black tiger shrimp, has so far been hampered by the lack of quality seed. Diseases such as white spot syndrome as also been a bane of farmers in India.

The multiplication centre is expected to alleviate these problems through the production of pathogen-free shrimp and strict bio-security measures.