The blue revolution plan designed by Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) gets a pat from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in the State. Mr. Naidu assured of all help to increase seafood production and boost exports from Andhra Pradesh, said MPEDA and Spices Board Chairman A. Jayathilak, who met the Chief Minister. Agriculture Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao, Mr. Jayathilak, Principal Secretary (Fisheries) Manmohan Singh, Commissioner Ramshankar Naik, MPEDA Deputy Director S. Kandan, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA) Chief Executive Officer K. Shanmukha Rao and other officials met Mr. Naidu on Saturday and explained the plans to improve seafood exports from AP. The Chief Minister praised MPEDA for its plans on blue revolution which helps to increase production and improve the country’s exchequer. We have strategies to promote mud crab culture, encourage Make in India’ shrimp seed and supply the same to the farmers to lessen the investment, Mr. Jayathilak told The Hindu on Sunday. He said that many progressive farmers, hatchery owners and aqua exporters are there in the State, and a meeting was held with all aquaculture stakeholders in West Godavari recently, the MPEDA and Spices Board Chairman said adding that the Spices Park located in Guntur district would be developed. We explained Mr. Naidu about the potential to develop aqua farming in the State and the plans to involve women groups in mud crab culture and trading of frozen shrimp, live and dried items in the international market, and the Chief Minister responded positively and promised to extend help from the State government to MPEDA, Jayathilak said. He further said that the State with its rich variety of fish, crabs and shrimp can tap the huge demand in the international market. Dr. Kandan said that MPEDA in association with Fisheries Department and the RGCA is searching for new fish and shrimp zones, impart training to aqua farmers on farming new varieties to boost marine production. MPEDA which is exporting seafood products to European Union, USA, Japan, South East Asia, China and the Middle East is searching for new avenues in the international market. We are conducting training classes for farmers from Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka, AP and other States on better farming practices, Mr. Shanmukha Rao said.
2016, The Hindu