With the Chilika Fresh launching its second outlet Chilika lagoon here on Sunday, fish lovers and foodies turned out in large numbers to take their fresh stocks from the store. The Odisha State Fishermen Cooperative Federation (FISHFED) is running the outlets. Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Pradeep Maharathy inaugurated the outlet near the Ekamra Kanan at IRC Village.
Maharathy said more Chilika Fresh outlets would be opened in the city in view of the enthusiastic response of people on the inaugural day of the first outlet in September 2014 at Siripur Square. Fisheries and ARD Secretary Bishnupada Sethi, who is spearheading the expansion activities of the FARD, was happy to see the turnout of customers. During Sethi’s tenure as FARD Secretary, expansion activities in the allied sector of agriculture is gaining momentum, said a senior FARD official.
Dilip Kumar Sahoo who lives near the outlet said, “We can now buy fresh fish in a healthy environment.” More than a thousand people turned up at the outlet on the day. There are varieties of fishes including rohu, bhakur, mirkali, prawn, marine crab, Chilika crab, lobster and pomfret available at the outlet. Director of Fisheries P Krishna Mohan said members of fisheries cooperatives in and around Chilika are providing fish and crabs to the outlet. FISHFED Managing Director Umesh Chandra Mohanty said more varieties of fishes and crabs would be added to the cart of Chilika Fresh.