The Hindu Business Line : MPEDA to upgrade facilities for seafood processing units

THE Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is planning to set up a chain of chilled storage facilities and upgrade fish landing centres in Kerala aimed at improving the basic amenities for marine product exports.

"We are seriously thinking of setting up a chain of chilled room facilities at main landing stations to store raw materials," a top MPEDA official, who did not want to be quoted, said.

He said what set the authority into thinking about such a chain was the abundant catch of fish during August-October this year. Existing cold storages were spilling over, as there was at least 25 per cent increase in the catch during the period.``We could not do proper preservation because of this shortage,'' the official said.

Unlike normal cold storages, the proposed chilled rooms will preserve fish in its raw form before they are processed. The authority is now studying the proposal and likely to go ahead with the project early next year.MPEDA has also chalked out plans to upgrade key fish landing stations in the State to provide more hygienic working conditions to labourers engaged in peeling.Two peeling sheds with modern facilities will come up in Kollam district and Kochi, the two major fish landing centres in the State. Each shed will cost about Rs 2.5 crore.

The authority is also launching an insurance package for migratory labourers in the seafood industry. To begin with, 35,000 employees in Varaval (Gujarat) will be brought under this scheme. The scheme is being introduced in association with United India Insurance Company and SBI Life.