KOCHI:
Stepping up its efforts to increase the share of value added products in total marine exports from 17 per cent to 30 per cent, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India, organized a first-of-its-kind interaction with stakeholders from the seafood sector in Gujarat.
Gujarat state government officials, aquaculture farmers, exporters and hatchery owners were among those who participated in the meeting organised in Somnath on Thursday. As many as 20 aquaculture farmers participated in the event, which also offered a platform for them to establish direct linkages with exporters.
MPEDA Chairman Dr A Jayathilak said that such meetings will benefit farmers directly and avoid the intermediaries from the scene.
“Seafood export in 2016-17 reached a record 5.8 billion US dollars. The trends in the ongoing financial year are just as encouraging, with a projected increase of 10 per cent to 12 per cent,” the Chairman said during his address.
MPEDA has formed 600 farmer clusters across the country under the National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA).
“These clusters are completely under the guidance of MPEDA and they will help us to export quality marine products. Moreover, the setup is such that it provides 100 per cent traceability to quality issues in the farms. Such initiatives will help give a major fillip to the export of quality seafood,” Dr. Jayathilak added.
Observing the prospects of the seafood export industry, Dr. Ajaykumar, District Collector, Veraval highlighted that the district administration would extend every kind of support possible to enhance the sea food trade from the state.
Piyushbhai Fofandi of All India Sea Food Exporters Association spoke during the event. The formal meeting was followed by Buyer-Seller interactions.
