With Odisha contributing significantly for promotion of marine exports from India, the Union Government has lauded the efforts of the State Government.
While the Department of Fisheries and ARD (FARD) has taken lot of initiatives for promotion of exports of seafood from the State, these proactive steps are appreciated by the Ministry of Commerce.
FARD Secretary Bishnupada Sethi has taken all sorts of pro-active steps to boost marine exports from the eastern State, which has taken a lead in promoting seafood industry in a big way. Odisha has identified fisheries as a priority sector and is taking up its expansion on fast track mode.
looking at the sincere efforts of the State authorities, Ministry of Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia has written to the State Government and lauded the efforts of the State administration in this regard.
While formulating a pro-active fishery policy, the State Government has also chalked out export promotion initiatives in the State, which has boosted the export of seafood, admit senior officials of the Directorate of Fisheries.
Appreciating the remarkable progress made by the State Government for marine exports, she said that such exports are projected to grow to about 10 billion Dollars in the next couple of years and the Indian seafood products find place in most developed markets because of quality of the products as well as competitive prices offered by us.
Teaotia has informed the State Government that the European Union (EU) has already increased intake of seafood from our country. However, she pointed out that the EU has increased the percentage of border inspection test of Indian aquaculture shrimps from 10 to 50 per cent recently and it may go for 100 per cent testing of aquacultureconsignments.
This is being done due to detection of antibiotics in the sea foods. looking at the growing demand for Odisha shrimps in the developed countries, the MoC has advised the State Government to look into presence of antibiotics.
This is occurring due to increased feed supplements used in aquaculture farming. The increased frequency of testing of consignments in overseas markets will ultimately result in increase in cost to exporter and thereby reduce the competitiveness of the shrimps in comparison with other countries.
The Union Government has urged the State authorities to take up measures to ban the use of antibiotics in aquaculture like some other States, including neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.