Team Herald
PANJIM: In the wake of a poor response to crab farming in the State, the Fisheries Department has introduced a financial scheme to promote breeding of Scylla Seratta also known as mud crabs in mangroves. This comes with an advisory that mangroves should not be destroyed in the process.
“Goa has good potential for fisheries. But we have always focused on raising different species of fish while ignoring crabs, which is equally demanding. Considering the high scope and demand for the locally found crab, we have decided to encourage entrepreneurs to cultivate mud crabs in marshy land,” a senior Fisheries Department official told Herald.
The department will provide financial assistance by way of subsidy and technical support wherein the applicant will have to mandatorily undergo a training session on crab farming. Experts at the department or the Indian Council of Agricultural Research at Ela Farm, Old Goa would impart the training.
Under the pattern of assistance for setting up Crab Culture Unit, the government has set 25 percent of the actual cost limited to Rs 1.50 lakh per hectare. A farmer will be eligible for up to 2 ha whereas maximum financial assistance for purchase of seed and feed is 50 percent of the actual cost limited to Rs 75,000 per ha and limited to 2 ha.
“On approval of the project proposal, 60 percent of the actual financial assistance on setting up the unit will be provided to the beneficiary and balance of 40 percent will be given on registration of the unit,” he said. All this comes with the condition that economically important species of crab, grown in estuaries and mangroves, should not affect or damage the environment.
