Aquaculture farms get a boost with Rs 10,000 crore fund

KOCHI: India’s seafood sector hopes that the Rs 10,000 crore fund announced for fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure development will help in developing infrastructure in farms located in remote locations.

"In under developed states like Odisha the aquaculture farms are located in remote locations and the fund could help in developing proper roads and provide electricity for the farmers. This will help in taking the produce to market quickly after the harvest," said Tara Ranjan Patnaik, MD of Falcon Marine Exports.

Aquaculture shrimps constitute nearly 70 % of the seafood exports from the country which is expected to touch Rs 40,000 crore this fiscal.


"But how much of it will be available for seafood sector needs to be seen as the fund is also for animal husbandry. Anyway it is a positive development for the industry," said Elias Sait, secretary of Seafood Exporters Association of India.

At present Andhra Pradesh is the state having largest aquaculture farms in the country. Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat and West Bengal come next in the number of farms.