Bhubaneswar: To achieve the aim of $5 trillion economy and double farmers’ income by 2022, focus should be shifted to aquaculture, which has immense potential to provide adequate employment and generate more revenue. In a country like India, aquaculture can also meet the nutrition requirements of thousands at minimal cost and tackle malnutrition, said Union Minister of state for Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and MSME, Pratap Chandra Sarangi.
While inaugurating the 4th edition of a three day- international conference on aquaculture at Central Institute of Fresh Water Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar Friday, Sarangi said Pollution and Climate Change are major threats for Aquaculture sector. We need to create awareness among people to stop use of plastic and keep water bodies safe and pollution free, to get quality products for our consumption and trade. The Minister urged all stakeholders for concerted efforts in making aquaculture profitable by strengthening value chain in the sector.
J K Jena, Deputy Director General (Fishery Science), ICAR, New Delhi said, “In future, aquaculture has to be knowledge intensive rather than input intensive.”
PK Agrawal, Vice Chancellor, OUAT called for enabling policy support to farmers. He hoped that fisheries education and research in Odisha would get a boost from the newly formed fisheries ministry at the centre.
The Minister felicitated ten innovative entrepreneurs for their exemplary accomplishment in aquaculture. Two mobile apps— IndAqua and TreatmyFish— developed in Odia, Hindi and English were released.
An exhibition on aquaculture will be held where around 50 stakeholders will participate and display their activities and services for the benefit of fish farmers, the officials said.
