Trilochan Mandal of Kunjakoti village under Erasama block has taken up l Vannamei culture in 18 acres of land for cultivation. He has already raised two crops during this year. He got 40 tons of shrimp as the first crop.
Fisheries and Animal Resource Development (FARD) Secretary Bishnupada Sethi visited Mandal’s farm during his tour of the district recently.
Mandal has been using diesel for running the aerators, which increases the cost of production. He requested for electrification of the cluster.
The amount of diesel required per kg production of l Vannamei is 800 ml. Compared to the farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha farmers are incurring an extra expense of Rs 60 per kg of shrimp and thereby becoming less competitive.
He requested for inclusion of Aero Tubes under subsidy scheme which is better to be used in nursery tanks.
Sethi held discussion with the farmers and officials and found that there were 200 farmers in Kunjakoti cluster engaged in l Vannamei culture over 500 acres of land. The cluster does not have electricity, interior road and proper inlet and outlet for the fish pond. In Erasama block, there are three clusters where l Vannamei culture has been taken up in 1,300 hectares water area.
Production of l Vannamei in the area has gone up over a period of time. During 2013-14, only 20 tonnes of shrimp was produced which increased to 2,000 tonnes during 2014-15.
During 2015-16, the production was about 5,000 tonnes and it is likely to reach more than 10,000 tonnes during 1016-17 in Erasama block alone.
Shrimp is being cultivated in more than 4,000 hectare of ponds in Jagatsinghpur district. Sethi instructed the District Fisheries Officer to prepare a report on shrimp production in the whole district and take necessary action to settle the Government land in favour of all eligible farmers as per the lease policy notified by the Government after discussion with the district Collector.
The farmers have no access to bank credit. The credit requirement, supply of inputs like seed and feed is made by various exporters like FAlCON, B-ONE, Suryo Udyog, RAM Associates, etc.
Sethi asked the officials to take up the basic issues of the farmers who have taken up l Vannamei and take necessary remedial measures to develop world class aquaculture clusters that can change the economy of Jagatsinghpur district.