Rajiv Ranjan Chairs Stakeholder Consultation on Enhancing Shrimp Farming and Fisheries Export Promotion

Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh emphasized the fisheries sector's significant role in India's economy, which is currently experiencing a growth rate of 9%.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, led a crucial ‘Stakeholder Consultation’ focused on promoting fisheries exports, particularly strengthening shrimp farming and its value chain. The event took place on September 5, 2024, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Minority Affairs, Shri George Kurian, also in attendance.

Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh emphasized the fisheries sector's significant role in India's economy, which is currently experiencing a growth rate of 9%. This sector is expected to be pivotal in transforming India into a Viksit Bharat by 2047. The Indian Government aims to establish the country as an International Processing Hub, leveraging the sector’s vast potential through key initiatives such as digitalization for traceable and sustainable fish exports, and the development of Smart and Integrated Harbours utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies. Recent budgetary allocations for establishing Nucleus Breeding Centres for shrimp were also highlighted as part of efforts to advance the sector.

Plans to upgrade fishing infrastructure in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands, with a focus on enhancing tuna exports, were discussed. The Union Minister commended the efforts of various start-ups in the fisheries sector and encouraged seafood exporters to modernize their processing facilities to increase value addition and economic returns. Additionally, a committee will be formed to address challenges related to maintaining disease-free broodstock and seeds.

Minister of State Shri George Kurian noted the increased financial allocation to the Department of Fisheries and the enhanced funding under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). He also mentioned the launch of 218 new projects worth Rs. 1564 crore by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Palghar, Maharashtra, expected to create over five lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities. The Ministry of Finance has also reduced import duties on feed inputs and ingredients, benefiting the aquaculture sector.

The consultation, organized by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), saw participation from representatives of the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), All India Shrimp Hatcheries Association (AISHA), Prawn Farmers Federation of India (PFFI), Indian Marine Ingredient Association (IMIA), and the Ornamental Fisheries Training and Research Institute (OFTRI), along with entrepreneurs, government officials, and research organizations.

Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary of the Department of Fisheries, outlined various government initiatives aimed at the overall development of the fisheries sector, including formalizing fisheries through the new PM-MKSSY scheme and promoting cluster-based development in areas like seaweed and ornamental fisheries.

The fisheries sector, often referred to as the 'Sunrise Sector,' is crucial to India's economy, contributing approximately 8% to global fish production and sustaining around 30 million individuals, predominantly from marginalized communities. India, as the world's second-largest fish producer, reached a historic production milestone of 17.5 million tons in 2022-23, with significant contributions to the country’s Gross Value Added (GVA) and agricultural GVA.

The stakeholder consultation provided a platform to discuss innovations, sustainable practices, and infrastructure development necessary to enhance productivity, ensure food safety, and improve traceability in the seafood export and value chain. The event reinforced the Government of India's commitment to advancing the fisheries sector, boosting exports, and supporting the livelihoods of millions of fishers, coastal communities, and fish farmers, contributing to the nation's blue economy.