The Hindu Business Line : Pawar sees potential to enhance ornamental fish exports

Opportunities aplenty: The Union Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Sharad Pawar, accompanied by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Prof K. V. Thomas, and the Andhra Pradesh Minister for Rural Development, Mr V. Vasant Kumar, inspecting a kiosk at the three-day Indian Fish Festival - 2009 organised by the National Fisheries Development Board in Hyderabad on Saturday. -Mohammed Yousuf

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, July 11 The Union Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Sharad Pawar, on Saturday reiterated the Government’s interest in shoring up India’s export of ornamental fish. “Ornamental fish business globally is in the range of $350 million. However, in India, ornamental fishery is yet to pick up. There is a huge potential to provide self-employment particularly to women,” he said inaugurating the 3-day Indian Fish Festival here.

He was keen that the Andhra Pradesh Government focused on this sector through the seven lakh women self-help-groups.

He said that “while focusing on production, there is also need for promotion of domestic market for ensuring remunerative prices to the producers.”

Mr Pawar said that the annual growth rate of over 4 per cent in fisheries is indicative of the immense opportunity in the coming years. The Government is exploring all possibilities for integrated development of fishery sector.

Prof K. V. Thomas, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, said the current level of per capita fish consumption at the global level was around 17 kg, while in India it was less than 5 kg. “If the per capita consumption could be increased even by 2 kg, there will be a huge demand for fish within our country,” he noted.

On disease outbreak in shrimp farms, he said the Government has introduced a special prawn seed project in Andhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs 40 crore. “Once this facility is ready, three billion disease-free shrimp seeds will be made available to aqua-farmers all over the country. Further, the Ministry has also permitted introduction of white shrimp culture in India,” he pointed out.

Earlier, Mr Pawar laid the foundation stone for the new office complex being set up by the National Fisheries Development Board in Hyderabad at a cost of Rs 20 crore. A fish shaped administrative building complex will function as the headquarters of NFDB, spread over an area of 5.13 acre. Delegates from 22 States in the country are participating in the India Fish Festival, with special focus on newer varieties of fish.

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