Fisheries and Animal Resource Development (FARD) Secretary Bishnupada Sethi has held discussions with Union Secretary for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (ADF) Devendra Chaudhury in New Delhi regarding air cargo handling facilities and creating necessary infrastructure at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar to facilitate export of chilled and live seafood items. As per the discussions, the State Government would expedite several steps including assessing the quantity of air cargo to be available for export per day or per week. The FARD Department would write to various airlines to seek their consent to operate flights to handle air cargo from the airport. The airport authorities have agreed to provide land for air cargo facilities. To start with, infrastructure to handle 50 MT per day of cargo may be created at the airport. The Central and State Governments can start a company with equal investments. The ADF Secretary suggested engagement of a competent consultant to prepare a roadmap for export of seafood worth Rs 25,000 crore from Odisha. The cost of such a study may be equally shared by the Central and State Governments. He also suggested that the NCDC be approached with a project proposal of Rs 250 crore for funding through cooperatives for strengthening aquaculture production and export. Besides, the Nabard may be approached for funding Rs 250 crore for similar activities through farmers’ producers companies, he said. Seafood products from Odisha are in huge demand not only in the countries of Far East and European Union but also in the Middle East. However, the absence of airlifting facilities at the airport in Bhubaneswar is posing a major hurdle for the exporters here. In view of the growing demand for chilled fish products in these countries, the Odisha Government has urged the Central government to make facilities for seafood export by air from the State capital. Several other States including Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are having such facilities. Odisha marine exporters are exporting more than Rs2,000 crore of seafood products annually. In 2014-15, Odisha exported 34,767 tonnes of marine products.
2016 The Pioneer.