Huge potential in export of ornamental fish: India’s Agri Minister

The Dollar Business Bureau Radha Mohan Singh, Union Agriculture Minister, Government of India, has urged the public and private sectors to join hands to further boost seafood exports from India. Speaking at a seminar on Fisheries organised by Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), in Bihar today, Singh said that while fisheries sector in India has received greater attention in the recent years than in the past, there is a need to adopt technology and a scientific attitude by the different stakeholders in the sector. India’s total fish production stands at around 10 million tonnes and it is second largest after China, he added. India is also a top seafood exporter, with exports touching $5 billion in FY2013-14, up about 43% from around $3.5 billion in the previous year. However, per capita consumption of fish in India stands at around 9.2 kg, which shows that there is scope for further growth in India. Singh said that scientific cultivation could help boost the inland fisheries and aquaculture sectors in India, and added that there is a possibility for greater involvement of women in this sector. Singh also highlighted the huge export opportunity that exists in niche sectors such as ornamental fish due to growing demand in both domestic and international markets. He said, “India’s contribution in world market is merely 1% despite prevalence of more than 325 breeds of ornamental fish in the country.” According to available with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the world export value of ornamental fish stood at around $174 million in 1998. However, India’s exports of ornamental fish have hovered around $1 million in the recent years.  

 This article was published on December 26, 2014.