December 22, 2020

Indian state to develop domestic market for aquaculture

The Andhra Pradesh government is targeting to increase farming area for brackish water aquaculture to two lakh (200,000) hectares, up from 1.6 lakh hectares presently, which is the highest in the country, The Times of India reported.

The decision was made to encourage domestic market consumption for brackish water aquaculture products, nearly 95% of which is currently exported to the United States, China and Europe.

The government has proposed setting up about 22,000 YSR Janata Bazaars in villages and towns.

P Koteswara Rao, principal, State Institute of Fisheries Technology and additional deputy director of the fisheries department, says brackish water aquaculture is a suitable option for entrepreneurs who have suffered business losses or those who have lost jobs in the COVID-19 pandemic as the government is offering incentives such as subsidised power at a rate of Rs1.5 (~US$0.02; Rs1 = US$0.014) per unit. In a first in India, the government has constituted a board, AP State Aquaculture Development Authority, to develop the fisheries sector, he adds.

"A minimum of Rs10 lakh per hectare is required. Even those with little or no education can do good business, but they must have the interest to acquire the skills," Rao adds.

Brackish water aquaculture requires a salinity to 5 to 15 PPT (parts per thousand), which is favourable for Vannamei prawn. Nearly 95,000 people are involved in the sector with an annual production of eight lakh tonnes, while another 500 have shown interest and close to 40 applications have been received in Visakhapatnam district.