The Indian aquaculture industry to aid in creating AatmaNirbhar Bharat and facilitate rehabilitation for reverse migrants

 The Indian aquaculture industry to aid in creating AatmaNirbhar Bharat and facilitate rehabilitation for reverse migrants

24th September 2020, Mumbai: Aquaculture in India is an important economic activity and a flourishing sector with varied resources and potentials. India ranks third in fisheries production, and second in aquaculture. There is a huge value chain involved globally, and the pandemic has affected the trade not just in exports but also internal consumption. A solution can be reached by increasing aquaculture efficiency, introduction of new methods to increase yield. It is important for those involved with the sector to remain constantly abreast of the newest global advancements. Keeping this thought in mind, several industry experts from India and across the world gathered at a one-of-its kind virtual conclave to discuss various topics pertaining to the industry. The Conclave witnessed a host of distinguished speakers from the industry – Mr Amit Saraogi, Managing Director, Anmol Feeds, Mr Tim O’Keefe, President, Aqua-Food Technologies Inc., Dr. Andy Shinn, Senior Scientist, Benchmark R&D (Thailand), Mr Umakanth R, Aquaculture Consultant, Asia Subcontinent, USSEC, Dr. P.E. Vijay Anand, Senior Lead, Emerging Market Development, USSEC, Dr. Y. Basavaraju, Former Dean, College of Fisheries, Mangalore, Mr. Ramachandra Raju, President, Society for Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture (SIFA), Mr Anton Immik, CEO, ThinkAqua, Dr. Mohd. Golam Quader Khan, Professor, Dept. of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mr. Raynalfie Rahardjo, Business Development Manager, JALA, Indonesia and Mr. Tarun Shridhar, Former Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.

Addressing the audience of the conclave, Mr Amit Saraogi, Managing Director, Anmol Feeds, stated, “Fisheries alone has employed 145 million people and contributed to 1.07% of the GDP and generated export earnings of Rs 334.41 billion as per a recent estimate of National Fisheries Development Board. Aquaculture over recent years has not only led to substantial socio-economic benefits such as increased nutritional levels, income, employment and foreign exchange, but has also brought vast un-utilized and under-utilized land and water resources under culture. The measures announced under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna for Fisheries and Shrimp sector to boost export and rural employment are encouraging. These measures will boost rural entrepreneurship, enable wealth creation to boost the economy to make India self-reliant as envisioned by our Hon’ble Prime Minister. Aquaculture can become a huge source of generating employment and livelihood as investment in this sector is less compared to the benefits it can give. It can increase protein availability, create generation of rural employment and help achieve the food security goals. Especially with all the reverse migration happening across the country, aquaculture, fisheries and shrimp culture can help in rehabilitation of these migrants and help create a livelihood for them.”