The Marine Products Export Development Authority (Mpeda) is looking at a 10-12 per cent growth in seafood exports in the current fiscal.
According to Mpeda Chairman A Jayathilak, seafood exports in 2016-17 reached a record $5.8 billion and the trends in the ongoing financial year are just as encouraging.
Speaking at the first-of-its-kind interaction with stakeholders from the seafood sector in Gujarat, he said Mpeda has formed 600 farmer clusters across the country under the National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture. These clusters are completely under the guidance of Mpeda and they will help the agency to export quality marine products.
Moreover, the set up is such that it provides 100 per cent traceability to quality issues in the farms. Such initiatives will help give a major fillip to the export of quality seafood, he said.
The meeting organised in Somnath in Gujarat assumes significance at a time when Mpeda stepped up its efforts to increase the share of value added products in total marine exports from 17 per cent to 30 per cent. According to him, such meetings will benefit farmers directly and avoid the intermediaries from the scene.
Gujarat state government officials, aquaculture farmers, exporters and hatchery owners were among those who participated in the meeting.
As many as 20 aquaculture farmers participated in the event, which also offered a platform for them to establish direct linkages with exporters.
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