SEAI seeks Rs 1,000 cr to boost seafood sector in state

The Sea Food Exporters Association of India (SEAI)-Odisha region has sought at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore for the infrastructure development in the seafood sector.

"There is need for funding of Rs 1,000 crore in the road, electricity, sea food park, coal chains to boost the sea food industry. Out of 32,000 hectare (ha) suitable for aquaculture, only 3,500 ha are developed in the state," Gora Chand Mohanty, president, Odisha chapter of SEAI told media persons at an event organized to felicitate Jual Oram, Union minister for tribal affairs. Due to non-availability of proper infrastructure, there is significant quality loss of products to the tune of 25 per cent, he added. Odisha produces around 15,000 tonnes of shrimps compared to more than 200,000 lakh tonnes produced in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The average productivity in the state is abysmally low at 1.3 tonne per ha compared to 10 per ha in Andhra Pradesh. "Odisha can easily increase its exports from Rs 1,700 crore presently to Rs 10,000 crore in three years, if emphasis is given by both the Centre and the state government on infrastructure development," Mohanty said. The regional chapter urged the Union minister to prevail upon the Centre to accord agriculture status to the sea food sector to avail the tax benefits. It also wanted the minister's intervention for exemption of custom duty on aquaculture equipment like aerators and simplification of procedures to facilitate farmers (or group of farmers) to import these items. The exporters requested Oram to pursue with the Union ministry of Food Processing for approval of a proposal to set up a sea food park in the state. Due to lack of refer containerisation facility at Paradip port, most of the exporters are shipping their consignments through Vizag and Kolkata ports. "Intervention of Union shipping ministry is required to start marine product exports from Paradip," the association said. SEAI said, there is a need to re-visit crop insurance scheme currently in practice as it is not beneficial to shrimp farmers. "I will find out the impediments in granting the agriculture status to the sector and will take up the matter with concerned agencies. All issues raised by the association will be taken up with the respective ministries," Oram assured.