October 11, 2023

 

How do India's aquaculture, fisheries progress

Lower shrimp prices, high product cost challenges and seed quality issues are the major challenges for India's shrimp production in the first half of 2023.

 

According to sources, a nearly 40% reduction in shrimp production was expected in the first half. In major shrimp production areas like Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, various climatic factors influenced the shrimp production cycle. Declining demand from the United States and the competition from Ecuador further worsened the market opportunities for Indian shrimp.

 

Identifying and capturing market opportunities is the first step to maintaining the progress of the Indian shrimp farming industry. A strategic plan to explore domestic market opportunities is needed and should be implemented with the involvement of all industry stakeholders, officials and policymakers. A unified strategy to promote shrimp consumption will help drive the industry toward sustainable growth.      

 

The decline in shrimp production is reflected in reduced shrimp feed production volumes. Most shrimp feed production and trade got affected in the first half of 2023. Local shrimp feed producers had once achieved 60-65% of their annual production target in the period; however, this year, the situation is not so. Most feed millers are, in fact, struggling to achieve minimum viable production volumes.

 

Still, concerning shrimp exports, there is not much reduction in export volumes.

 

As for freshwater fish farming, stocking is almost completed in most parts of India. Species diversification is ongoing in Andhra Pradesh as farmers are slowly shifting towards the farming of other fish species other than Indian major carps.      

 

Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food-producing sectors, providing livelihood and employment to about 30 million fishermen and fish farmers in India. The Indian government has introduced a scheme with an investment of US$2500 million — the highest-ever investment made in the country's fisheries and aquaculture sector to drive a Blue Revolution.

 

Around US$500 million were invested in the fisheries sector between 1950 and 2014. In the last nine years, US$4750 million has been invested in the sector through schemes like the Blue Revolution plan, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund and PMMSY.

 

In conclusion, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), the establishment of fishery micro-enterprises and agri-start-ups, private sector participation and technology adoption will be the four levers of growth of India's fisheries industry.

- Dr. Dinesh Bhosale