T'gana govt inks pact with MPEDA to boost export-oriented

Seeking to boost its export-oriented aquaculture, the Telangana government Thursday entered into an agreement with the Kochi-based Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), an agency under the Union Commerce Ministry.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of Telangana Fisheries Minister Talasani Srinivasa Yadav and Chairman of MPEDA, K S Srinivas IAS, here Thursday, a release issued by MPEDA said.

The 1972-founded MPEDA signed the MoU for the development of export-oriented aquaculture in Telangana and also promote its fish exports in the next five years.

"The MOU involves setting up a multi-species aquaculture centre with the state government's funding.

The facility will consist of hatcheries, nurseries and training centres for export-oriented aquaculture species," the release said.

The pact also envisages providing technical assistance to set up an Aquatic Quarantine facility at the Hyderabad Airport through MPEDA society named Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), besides extending technical and financial aid for a chilled and live fish-handling facility at the same place.

MPEDA would also assist the Telangana government in formulating a cage culture policy for promoting export-oriented aquaculture in the water bodies of the state.

To build the capacity of farmers in adopting better management practices, MPEDA would organise farmers into clusters under the National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA), the release added.

Telangana has the country's third-largest inland water resource base for fisheries with 77 large, medium and minor reservoirs and as many as 24,189 tanks with 5.7 lakh ha water spread area suitable for fisheries.

Aquaculture is being carried out in more than 1,000-ha area.

Also, the state has fisher communities totalling 27.14 lakh people.

Associated with 4,000 fishermen societies, they comprise 3 lakh members who are spread over the entire state.

MPEDA would organise 'Aqua Aquaria India-2019,' in the city for three days from August 30.

More than 250 exhibitors would showcase various production and harvest technologies, machinery and accessories in export-oriented aquaculture as well as ornamental fisheries sectors, the release said.