Seafood exporters will have to expand their markets and export value added, processed products rather than commodities, according to Union Commerce Secretary S.R. Rao.
Seafood exports in current fiscal have dropped about 7 per cent as of now compared with last year when exports touched Rs 16,597 crore for the full year. Shrimps account for nearly half the exports.
The prevailing global economic scenario, Euro zone crisis and the slowdown in the US are the reasons for the drop. Also, increased competition from Vietnam and the Philippines has hit realisations.
New markets
Indian exporters will have to look at new markets such as Africa and China, focus on value added, processed products exports and exploit the strengthening trade ties with Japan and South Korea to grow. India hopes to double exports in the next two years, Rao said.
A team led by Leena Nair, Chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority, will be in the US on January 14 to represent India’s case against the possible countervailing duty that the US is contemplating on shrimp exports from India.
India does not subsidise shrimp production, he said.
Nair said exports are down in dollar terms but the initial numbers indicate a quantitative growth.
Quarantine facility launched
The officials were addressing media persons at the inauguration of expanded aquatic quarantine facility in Chennai and to launch further stages of expansion.
G.C. Pati, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries, Government of India, said the facility is to hold imported broodstocks of Pacific White Shrimp, ‘Litopenaeus vannamei’, which is the dominant species under culture in shrimp farms. Over 1.30 lakh tonnes of this exotic species is being produced in India for exports. The other major variety is the Black Tiger Shrimp ‘Penaeus monodon’, which accounts for about 80,000 tonnes.
The parent stock for the exotic species is imported and has to be quarantined before release to hatcheries. The capacity at the quarantine facility in Neelangarai to the south of Chennai has been expanded to hold about 83,000 broodstock against 47,000 previously. Over the next one year the capacity will go to 2.37 lakh broodstock.
This will underpin the growth of the aquaculture industry.