The Hindu Business Line : Q3 marine products export growth suffers

MARGINAL RISE: A seafood trader exhibiting a lobster at his outlet near Kochi. Seafood exports registered a three per cent rise during the first nine months of the current fiscal, topping $1 billion in the process. Seafood exports have, however, been slack due to lack of value addition and quality standards. — K.K. Mustafah

Kolkata. Feb. 3

EXPORTS of marine food products have touched $1 billion in April-December 2005, posting a marginal rise of three per cent.

Mr Mohan Kumar, Chairman of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) told newspersons at the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry here that the export growth suffered, especially in the third quarter.

On the prospects of enhancing exports, he said MPEDA had recommended a revision of the subsidy scheme with a focus on "value-addition".

Enhancement of the subsidy budget has also been recommended.

Though the recommendations are yet to be cleared by the Centre, Mr Kumar made it clear that the Authority wanted to pay focussed attention on value-addition to the existing seafood varieties available in the country, development of better farming practices, innovating newer technologies and pave way for the development of niche high value market for Indian marine products.

According to Mr Kumar, India has been a laggard in seafood exports largely due to lack of value-addition and stabilisation of product quality. "India is one of the few countries in the world which produces black tiger shrimp, however, a focussed attention is required in improvement of quality as well as quantity of the produce."

Tech front: On technology front, MPEDA is now working on diversification of products.

The MPEDA Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Aquaculture in Tamil Nadu recently developed technology for mass production of mud crab seeds.

Mud crabs are exported in substantial quantities to South-East Asian countries.

Since the technology was not available so far, the existing farming practices were putting pressure on the ecosystem.

"West Bengal will be a major beneficiary of this technological breakthrough. The ecosystem of the Sunderbans estuaries was witnessing some pressure due to crab farming. We are planning to start a special crab development project here," he said.

More Stories on : Aquaculture | Exports & Imports

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Crude futures witness limited corporate response

FMC gets tough with NCDEX on norms violation — Seeks action against official responsible for settlement price change of urad, chana

West Bengal spots areas to breed ornamental fish

Q3 marine products export growth suffers

Growth in natural rubber consumption may slow down on price spurt: IRSG

Rubber for May delivery tops Rs 90

Triveni Engg to set up mills in UP

World cotton prices firming up

Soyameal exports may top 22 lakh t by March-end

Vanilla coffee launched

Marginal rise in cardamom prices