Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said a task force would be set up soon with representatives from the industry and the government to give a big push to exports of marine products, mainly aquaculture products like Vannamei (white-leg shrimp). Stating that the State was formidably placed as the leading exporter of aquaculture products from India, he told reporters on the sidelines of India International Seafood Show-2016 (IISS) that the committee would monitor the progress in making AP a prominent international hub for aquaculture. A world-class university for fisheries at Bhimavaram and Centres for Excellence for Fisheries at Visakhapatnam and Bhimavaram with the support of the Union Government, are being set up. Mr. Naidu said sites were being identified to develop aquaculture clusters for investment all along the coastline. For job creation and improvement in livelihood condition of fisherfolk, self-help groups and fishermen’s associations would be involved to boost up value-addition of both sea-captured and cultured fish. Emphasis on dairy development’ Along with fisheries, emphasis would be on dairy development and animal husbandry, which have a good scope to create jobs. He said the opinion of international experts would be taken to promote fisheries and allied sector in a big way. Underlining the need for R&D for disease control, he said farmers would be given the right technology and training to use proven practices for disease-free growth of aquaculture products and earn more by ensuring high-yielding seeds. Mr. Naidu said AP was the only State which had earmarked over Rs. 330 crore to create infrastructure and give incentives to the fisheries sector and hoped that MPEDA would enhance its grants. He said the government was keen on developing greenfield ports as well as fishing jetties all along the coast. Minister for HRD Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Anakapalle MP M. Srinivasa Rao were present. A world-class university for fisheries is being set up at Bhimavaram with the Centre’s support.
2016, The Hindu