Choice Canning Collaborates with Global Seafood Alliance and Center for Responsible Seafood to Empower Small-Scale Aquaculture Farmers

Two-Year Initiative Aims to Boost Economic Stability and Promote Responsible Aquaculture in India

by Fishery News
Published: Last Updated on

Choice Canning Company, a subsidiary of The Choice Group, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the USA-based Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) and The Center for Responsible Seafood (TCRS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting responsible seafood production. This partnership aims to uplift small-scale aquaculture farmers in India who face challenges related to infrastructure, capital, insurance, financial planning, market exposure, and access to information on responsible aquaculture practices.

Four-Phase Initiative:

  • The two-year initiative comprises four distinct phases designed to provide economic stability and support to farming communities:
  • Phase One: Identifying infrastructure needs and analyzing challenges, including the selection of trainers and farmer participants.
  • Phase Two: Providing education and training to farmers on responsible aquaculture practices.
  • Phase Three: Expanding outreach and intensifying training programs, fostering increased participation, and garnering marketplace support.
  • Phase Four: Graduating farmer participants from the initiative.

Cutting-Edge Antibiotic Testing Facility:

As part of this initiative, a cutting-edge antibiotic testing facility will be established to enhance quality assurance in aquaculture. This facility will offer on-site lab services directly at the farm, improving the quality control process.

Commitment to Farmer Welfare:

Jose Thomas, Chairman and Managing Director of The Choice Group, emphasized the importance of supporting farmers, stating, “The objective here is the farmer. Without him or her, there is no shrimp on the shelf. It’s time that we help them more.” This initiative seeks to improve farmers’ lifestyles, provide education, and offer crop protection through an insurance program.

Global Support for Responsible Practices:

Wally Stevens, CEO of GSA, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing the significance of supporting farmers and fishers who contribute to the seafood industry. He stated, “Farmers and fishers are the people who bring seafood to our tables.”

TCRS’s Commitment:

George Chamberlain, President of TCRS, highlighted the organization’s commitment to enhancing global farming and fishing communities, particularly small businesses.

Enhancing Quality Control:

Choice Canning Company recently introduced India’s first Mobile Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Lab, QC by Choice, in Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. This initiative aims to improve quality control in aquaculture by providing laboratory services directly at the farm level. It is expected to reduce the turnaround time from sampling to results, significantly enhancing pre-harvest testing efficiency.

This collaborative effort between Choice Canning, GSA, and TCRS marks a significant step toward promoting responsible aquaculture and improving the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in India’s aquaculture industry.

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