MARGAO: In a landmark agreement signed by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) of Government of India and COOP Cooperative one of Switzerland’s biggest companies, aqua farming in India is set to get a big boost specially in shrimp aqua farming in Kerala.
However, for the agreement to be successful the government will have to amend its policy to permit permanent use of the land for aqua farming and COOP will study the quality of water to see if it is polluted.
As per the Memorandum of Cooperation signed on Sunday by MPEDA Chairman Dr A Jayathilak and Gerhard Zurlutter COOP Cooperative Head of Projects and Overseas Buying Frozen Products, MPEDA will identify entrepreneurs for production of high quality organic shrimp while COOP will give them the technical advice and also buy back the shrimps produced.
COOP having nearly 2,200 sales outlets throughout Europe has offered to procure the processed organic shrimp at a premium of 15 per cent with an additional 5 per cent finance for development activities including training.
“The increase in cost is the main reason why farmers hesitate to go for organic production however, the premium price offered will offset the extra cost and should motivate farmers to opt for this project,” said Dr Jayathilak adding that this agreement should encourage more farmers to opt for this form of farming.
As a pilot project, organic black tiger shrimps will be produced in 1000 hectares of land and will be extended to other locations across India depending upon the results.
He said his company was celebrating the silver jubilee of organic certification in production and added that it would assist in getting national and international certification to the produce of Indian farmers who opt for the scheme to produce shrimps in organic manner at aqua farms.
Stating that a similar project has been very successful in Vietnam, Zurlutter could however not quantify the quantum of shrimps produced per acre of land in the organic way or the inorganic way.
He however asserted that the farmers in Vietnam were doing very well because the organic farming uses very simple system which is sustainable over a long term. “It is the balance between nature and commerce that appeals to the European consumer,” he said. Cochin based JASS Ventures and Baby Marine International will collaborate with COOP to organize the supply chain in Kerala and process the produce through organic methods.
