Baleswar would host an Aqua Expo Odisha-2020 from February 22 and 24.
The mega event is jointly organised by the Sea Food Exporters’ Association, Aqua Feed Dealers’ Association and Odisha Shrimp Farmers’ Association with the assistance of the Balasore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) at the ITI field.
Organising secretary and Sea Food Exporters’ Association State vice-president Sangram Das told reporters that about 4,000 farmers from the State are expected to join the expo which experts from across India and abroad would attend.
“The technologies, means and methods are upgraded during the three-day mega event,” said Das.
“The Odisha marine export, which amounted to a mere Rs 200 crore in 1992, has now grown to Rs 3,000 crore due to the State and Central Governments’ initiative. The culture in Odisha is being made in about 10,000 hectares of land with a production of nearly 60,000 MT per annum and direct employment is for about 2 lakh people," he said.
There is further scope of the growth in the sector and it could go up to Rs 1,000 crore in next five years if the sector receives a wholehearted support of the Government, said expo convener Abhay Mahapatra. Since the sector has scope of further growth, the coastal aquaculture has resulted benefiting in use of marginal lands, generation of rural jobs, high infusion of funds into the local market thus strengthening the social establishments of rural patches, he observed.