The Hindu Business Line : Prawn farmers' body to introduce exotic species

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Hyderabad Feb. 26 To promote and voice the concerns of prawn farmers, an organisation called the Prawn Farmers Federation of India (PFFI) has been formed. It would strive to bring into its fold over a lakh small farmers, their families and several lakh direct and indirect employees.

In a press release, Mr V. Balasubramaniam, Interim Secretary, PFFI, and Joint Secretary, Tamil Nadu Coastal Aqua Federation, said during discussions on issues to be addressed, it was unanimously resolved that the Federation will give top priority to the issue of introduction of exotic species.

Representatives of the federation along with representatives from the All-India Prawn Hatcheries Owners Association and the Sea Food Exporters Association will make a representation to the Union Ministry of Agriculture, to ban the introduction of the exotic P. Vannamei species of prawn in India since it will destroy the thriving black tiger prawn culture.

India is the leading producer of black tiger prawns in the world at present.

India has over 1.5 lakh hectares under prawn cultivation with around 1.2 to 1.4 million hectares potential brackish water area available. More than 91 per cent of the one lakh plus farmers have small scale of less than 2 hectares.

About six per cent of the farmers' own land between 2-5 hectares and the remaining three per cent own land over 5 hectares. Total production is around 1.35 lakh tonnes with an average production of less than 1,000 kg per hectare.

Andhra Pradesh is the hub of prawn farming activity in India, while Tamil Nadu is a major player, the release added.

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