In 2018-19, India exported marine products worth USD 6.8 billion (1.39 million tonnes) and the total fish production in the country was approximately 13.34 million tonnes with an increase of about 6% over the previous year’s production (12.59 million tonnes in 2017-18) and 1.1% in export quantity (1.37 million tonnes). Hence, there is a potential for the export of fishery products from India.
With regard to the dairy sector, India ranked first in milk production with 176.35 million metric tonnes in FY 2017-18. During 2018-19, India’s export of milk and milk products was Rs. 2423 crore which is about 1% of world export. Hence, there is a potential for growth in Indian dairy products export also.
The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) promotes cluster farming of aquaculture in all the maritime states and has formed 918 aquaculture farming societies involving 19,854 farmers. The district wise details of such societies is given as Annexure-I. Through these societies, MPEDA provides technical and financial assistance to promote sustainable aquaculture and increase the aquaculture production. The farmers of these societies are encouraged to follow Better Management Practices (BMPs) for ensuring disease free production.
With regard to the promotion of dairy products exports, Mathura District in Uttar Pradesh and Banaskantha in Gujarat have been identified as clusters for dairy products.
Some countries have shown interest in investing in the agriculture sector of India. The foreign investment in the agriculture services sector in last 3 years has been about USD 283.5 million. Out of this, investment in fisheries sector is USD 3.8 million and in the dairy sector is USD1.94 million.
The steps taken to implement the Agriculture Export Policy are given at Annexure – II. Since the Policy was announced in December 2018 and it is in the initial stage of implementation, no impact assessment of policy on the states has been done so far.
With regard to the Fisheries Sector, the Government through Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has undertaken certain proactive measures whose details have been mentioned at Annexure-III. With regard to theDairy Sector, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying has been implementing the following Dairy Development Schemes which aim at benefitting the farmers through creation of dairy processing and marketing infrastructure across the country:
These schemes support State Governments and State Dairy Federations/ Milk Unions to enhance their capacity in terms of dairying in respective States.
Annexure- I
State |
District |
No. Of Societies Registered with NaCSA |
Total No. Of Farmers |
Andhra Pradesh |
East Godavari |
149 |
3058 |
West Godavari |
130 |
2758 |
|
Krishna |
181 |
4124 |
|
Gunturu |
93 |
2075 |
|
Prakasam |
26 |
577 |
|
Nellore |
85 |
1822 |
|
Srikakualam |
26 |
445 |
|
Vizag |
4 |
80 |
|
Sub Total |
|
694 |
14939 |
Odisha |
Balasore |
46 |
995 |
Bhadrak |
19 |
394 |
|
Ganjam |
4 |
92 |
|
Jagatsinghpur |
3 |
64 |
|
Puri |
6 |
163 |
|
Kendrapara |
1 |
23 |
|
Sub Total |
|
79 |
1731 |
Tamil Nadu |
Cudallore |
4 |
87 |
Kanchipuram |
1 |
20 |
|
Nagipattinam |
35 |
859 |
|
Thiruvuru |
6 |
142 |
|
Villipuram |
4 |
80 |
|
Thanjavur |
3 |
70 |
|
Sub Total |
|
53 |
1258 |
Karnataka |
Dakshin Kannada |
1 |
10 |
Udipi |
10 |
195 |
|
Uttara Kannada |
10 |
178 |
|
|
|
21 |
383 |
West Bengal |
East Medinipur |
58 |
1270 |
South 24 Paraganas |
9 |
197 |
|
North 24 Paraganas |
1 |
25 |
|
|
|
68 |
1492 |
Kerala |
Ernakulam |
2 |
41 |
Goa |
South Goa |
1 |
10 |
Total |
|
918 |
19854 |
Annexure-II
A new Central Sector Scheme – Implementation of Agriculture Export Policy – has been approved with an outlay of Rs. 206.80 crores for 2019-20.
Annexure-III
MPEDA provides financial assistance to encourage aqua farmers to adopt Better Manufacturing Practices in Aquaculture. The farmers are eligible for assistance @50% of capital cost or a maximum of 5 lakh. For SC/ST beneficiaries the quantum of assistance will be 75% of capital cost or maximum of 7.5 lakh. The assistance includes installation of bio-security infrastructures.
MPEDA is also providing capacity building & skill development assistance to Aqua farmers by rendering Training, Awareness Campaigns, Farmers meet, Workshops etc. MPEDA also encourages cluster farming by formation of Aqua farmers Welfare Societies through its Society called the National Center for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA).
The unit offices of MPEDA established across maritime States in the country are providing aquaculture development services to the aqua farmers in the country. Demonstration farm projects are run by these unit offices involving farmers. 11 ELISA Labs established near farming areas for providing service to the farmers for testing their produce for detection of antibiotics.
Rajiv Gandhi Center for Aquaculture (RGCA), the Research and Development wing of MPEDA has established 11 projects for diversifying export oriented aquaculture. These projects are facilitating aquaculture by sale of seeds and providing technical assistance.
The above initiatives of MPEDA are aimed at increasing the production of aquaculture and export of marine products.
This information was given by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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MM/ SB