Commercial crab farming is being recently promoted in Goa. It is an economically feasible activity that can generate high returns to fish farmers, reports Shoma Patnaik Seafood that is highly popular in Goa is crabs. Check out the scene and discover that kurlio’ or crab cooked in hot and spicy masala is relished food in many homes. And there are other yummy crab dishes to enjoy. Crabs roasted, stuffed, curried, are lip smacking dishes that any lover of seafood will enjoy. Monsoons are a good time to be talking of crabs because it is highly in demand in the market. Crabs are considered as heat generating food and residents eat them as cure against the rainy chill. The rate of crabs in Panaji market is high and it can burn a hole in the pocket. The price ranges between Rs 50-Rs 80 per crab (for a small, palm-sized variety). For slightly larger specimens the rate is around Rs 350-Rs 400 for a bunch of five crabs. According to restaurant owners, crabs are a hot favorite among tourists and therefore it is priced accordingly vis-à-vis other dishes on the menu. However tourists do not mind shelling out as it is considered as an integral part of Goan seafood. Meanwhile the ground level situation on crabs is pinching. Consumption is increasing by the day and it outpaces supply by a wide margin. So there is always a demand-supply mismatch and consequently prices are high. In future too this mismatch will continue and even widen unless steps are taken to increase its output. Crab supply in Goa is from marine and inland fishing. Bulk of the supply is marine crabs and they are caught by local trawlers and outside. Marine crab production is risen however the growth is erratic and it is not a steady increase over the years. On the other hand, inland crab catch is at extremely low level. The quantity of netting was only 368 tons in 2015 and if you see the trend over the years, the growth is modest. There are no commercial cultivators of crabs in Goa according to fish exporter, Steven D’Souza, Atlas Fisheries Pvt Ltd, Corlim. It is a pity as crabs are lucrative in domestic and export market, he says. Crab meat has very good demand in Singapore and Far East Asia but because of local low supply it is difficult to think of exporting crabs, said D’Souza. Production is low because fishing methods are traditional and there is no attempt to inculcate modern methods of cultivation. Traditional crabs fishing in Goa is done in the creeks, rice fields, close to the sluice gates and on inundated khazan’ land. It is done with the help of handmade traps called a cobllem.’ The traps are usually set up during high tide, although crabs can also be caught at low tide. According to Manjulakshmi, scientist, fisheries section, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), Old Goa, captured or natural fishing is a major source of fish so residents are not interested in aquaculture. Goa’s water quality in terms of salinity, ph levels is good and there are many coastal ponds. It is ideal place for cultivated crab farms, said Manjulakshmi. To induce crab cultivation the government recently launched a financial assistance scheme (box). There are enquiries for the scheme and hopes are that it will take off, says Shamila Monteiro, director, fisheries department. Goa has lot of places where cultivation can take place and Monteiro points to the presence of mangroves and water bodies. According to existing fish farmers the problem with the success of the scheme is availability of land as only a person with suitable land can come forward for it. Another hurdle is raising the initial finance as financial assistance will be given only after setting up of the unit. Crab cultivation requires a number of essentials to succeed, adds Manjulakshmi. The first is availability of seeds and they need to be procured either from Chennai or from private seed suppliers, she says. Farmers also have to ensure feed as size is directly in relation to the feed. Further farmers also need proper pond area that is cemented at the edges to prevent the crabs from escaping, she says. Technical assistance provided by the ICAR is for crab fattening and for cultivation. Goan crab farmers would be successful if they go in for crab fattening, says Manjulakshmi. For crab fattening a farmer needs to collect juvenile crabs from the wild and place it in racks. The tiny crabs grow up to 500 grams weight in no time and can be sold in the market, she explains. Crab species suitable for Goa are Scylla Serrata commonly known as mud crab. It is found in marshy land and is hard. It does well in brackish water that is abundantly available in the state, according to scientists at ICAR. Crab cultivation has not taken off in Goa but nearby in Sindhudurg area of Maharashtra, women in coastal areas are doing it with great success, according to experts in fishing. It is a project aided by the UNDP, along with the ministry of environment, Maharashtra government, and supported by the Global Environment Facility. Fisherwomen in groups are doing crab and oyster farming as sustainable livelihood options. The project started almost two years ago and the first harvest was done this year. With a 60 per cent survival rate, crab farming is lucrative business. The produce is sold mainly in Goa where the crab market is booming due to robust demand from tourism and residents. Goa has about 18,000 hectare of khazan fields, the second largest in India. There is huge opportunity for farmers to harness crab cultivation to their benefit. The Scylla species are ideal as they grows to large size of up to 2 kgs and do not cause any damage to bunds’ or fencing. There are many states such as West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry, Karnataka, Maharashtra, where crab cultivation is taken off and it is high time our fish farmers take to it.
www.navhindtimes.in 2011