Will make AP the leading exporter of seafood: Chandrababu Naidu

The Dollar Business Bureau The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu, on Monday said that Andhra Pradesh has huge potential to transform as an aquaculture capital and marine processing hub of the country. Naidu said that he would make AP number one in terms of processing capacity, value-addition and export of seafood. The AP CM made these statements in response to the interest shown by the Australian companies to make investments in various sectors of the state. According to reports, Sean Kelly, Consul General of Australia, called on Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu and expressed Australia’s willingness to work with the AP government in promoting state’s aquaculture and dairy sectors. The official was quoted to have said that Australia specializes in sustainable fisheries management and it wanted to work with the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh in this sector. During the meet, the Australian official assured of providing efficient fisheries management without exploitation of marine life. Responding to the official, the AP CM asked Australia to explore further opportunities in policy-making for the marine industry, research, equipment and machinery in Andhra Pradesh. Earlier this month, an Australian team had visited AP to study various prospects for investment and technology adaption in the State for better harvest of fish and aqua products in a scientific and commercial manner. A team of scientists of Oceanic Institute, Hawaii Pacific University, who were in India for a three-day Aqua Aquaria India – 2015 event, said that they find a larger scope for growth in marine exports from India. According to sources, the Institute’s Director Dustin R Moss and Research Associate in Genetics Steve M Arce, were said to have appreciated the Indian farmers for implementing better measures to prevent the outbreak of Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS). “Due to the outbreak of EMS in South East Asia and Vietnam, exports have come down from those countries and in the meantime, exports from India increased significantly following the timely measures initiated by it,” said Steve. Lauding India for her progress in marine exports in recent years, Dustin said ponds, particularly those in AP are good and hygienic and much of the shrimp and fish production & exports from AP remain untapped, say the sources. According to the Marine Products Export Development Authority chairperson Leela Nair, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is proposing to boost up the export revenue by promoting ornamental fish rearing. Going by the statistics, the exports of marine products during 2013-14 made an all time record of $5008 million, 64.12% of which comprises of shrimp and of which 73.31% was cultured, shows the significant role played by shrimp and aquaculture in Indian seafood industry.  

This article was published on February 23, 2015.