Jagdish Fofandi, the President of the Seafood Exporters’ Association of India and newly appointed Vice President of India’s Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), emphasized the urgent need for nationwide improvements in aquaculture infrastructure. Fofandi specifically called for the expansion of shrimp aquaculture into Kerala state.
India, having achieved a record-breaking USD 8.47 billion in seafood exports in the last fiscal year, aims to further elevate this figure to USD 14 billion by 2025. Fofandi attributed this success to consistent demand from existing markets and the exploration of new markets. However, he highlighted areas where India is trailing behind its shrimp business rival, Ecuador.
Fofandi pointed out that Ecuador surpasses India in investment in developing and disseminating quality seed and aquafeed. He also noted the challenge of maintaining affordable electricity, a factor where India lags behind Ecuador. In light of this, Fofandi urged the Indian government to enhance support for the aquaculture sector and make more land available for shrimp farming.
One specific focus of Fofandi’s call to action is the expansion of shrimp farming in Kerala, a state in the southern part of India. Currently, Andhra Pradesh dominates India’s shrimp production, with Gujarat and Odisha following closely. Fofandi stressed the need for concerted efforts to revive shrimp production in South Gujarat, which experienced a significant decline from 90,000 metric tons two years ago to 30,000 metric tons last year.
India’s standing in wild-caught shrimp has faced challenges, with Vietnam and Thailand taking the lead. The U.S. ban on Indian shrimp exports, attributed to concerns about turtle-excluder devices, has contributed to this setback. Fofandi urged the government to address this issue and work towards restoring trade relations with Japan, a once-major destination for Indian seafood. He expressed concern about declining demand from Japan, even for the typically sought-after surimi.
As India pursues its ambitious seafood export target, Fofandi stressed the importance of addressing these challenges promptly to ensure the sustained growth and competitiveness of the Indian aquaculture sector.
Source: The Hindu
