Odisha has aimed to increase its sea food exports to Rs 20,000 crore per annum in the next five years.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while inaugurating a workshop on ‘Seafood Export: Prospects and Challenges’ at the Jayadev Bhawan here.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and ARD Pradeep Maharathy, State Skill Development Authority Chairman Subrato Baghchi and senior MlAs attended the workshop. Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, Secretary Fisheries and ARD Bishnupada Sethi and other senior officials were also present.
Organised by the Fisheries and Animal Resource Department (FARD), the workshop focused on the rapidly growing fisheries sector in the State and the huge scope for sea food export.
According to the deliberations at the workshop, Odisha’s economy continues to be on a high growth trajectory and the scope for increasing sea food exports appears to be very bright.
A total of 34,767 MT of marine products worth Rs 2,069 crore was exported from the State in 2014-15 which is a growth of 450 per cent over the export of Rs 379 crore in 2000-01. The FARD Department has a vision to increase the exports to Rs 20,000 crore per annum in the next five years.
Freshwater resources of the State are estimated to be 6.76 lakh hectares (ha) comprising 1.25 lakh ha of tanks/ ponds, 2 lakh ha of reservoirs, 1.80 lakh ha of lakes, swamps and bheels and 1.71 lakh ha of rivers and canals.
The State’s brackish water resources cover 4.18 lakh ha - 0.79 lakh ha of Chilika lake, 2.98 lakh ha of estuaries, 32,587 ha of brackish water area and 8,100 ha of backwaters.
The State has 24,031 ha of suitable brackish water Government land which can be utilised for l. Vannamei culture. l. Vannamei has high potential for export, and the State Government plans to provide suitable land for brackish water aquaculture to beneficiaries of anti-poverty programmes
The Brackish Water land leasing Principles are in place and there is provision for giving preference to the existing farmers, technically qualified persons and trained as well as experienced persons.
By harnessing the brackish water resources through leasing, the department has plans to enhance shrimp production to 3 lakh MT in next five years.
The Jagatjore-Banpada Shrimp Culture Project has been leased out to a private company for taking up Vannamei culture extensively.
The department has recently entered into a technical collaboration with WorldFish to adopt best management practices for increasing productivity in the existing water bodies.
The State has a target to double the fish production in the next five years, the Government has already notified its Odisha Fisheries Policy, 2015. The Government is taking steps to induct the required manpower. At least 123 posts of Assistant Fisheries Officers and 112 posts of Junior Fisheries Technical Assistants have already been filled up.
The Chief Minister on Friday launched a new scheme, livelihood Support to Marine Fishermen during Fishing Ban Periods during the workshop.
To be operational from the year 2016-17, the scheme is intended to provide financial assistance to poor marine fishermen and fish workers adversely affected due to ban on account of sea turtle protection and marine fisheries resources conservation.
For the livelihood Support to Marine Fishermen during Fishing Ban Periods during 2016-17, 2,000 most vulnerable BPl families will be selected by the Director of Fisheries in the Olive Ridley turtle conservation area. The affected fishermen will each receive Rs 5,000 per annum. After assessing success of the scheme, steps will be taken to extend it for further four years.