Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies have plans to launch large scale vannamei farming across the state with the formation of various farmer groups.
According to Vice Chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup, KUFOS would help farmers to export the produce directly avoiding intermediaries. Steps have been taken to obtain the recognition of Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ACC), a global eco labelling agency headquartered in Netherlands, for getting easy access in foreign market.
He was speaking at the two-day training and aqua-expo organised by KUFOS on the Litopenaeus Vannamei, an exotic white shrimp.
Earlier, the State Fisheries Minister, K Babu, has urged shrimp farmers to accept the change and to speed up the process of ushering in a vannamei revolution in the State.
“Kerala shrimp farmers should be ready to accept the changes in the field of shrimp farming around the world. Compared to the other states, we are very late to earn profits out of vannamei culture”, he said.
By successfully developing a farming model of vannamei shrimp suitable to the particular brackish water ecosystem of the State, KUFOS dismissed concerns of shrimp farmers in undertaking the vannamei culture, he added.
Showcasing hi-tech model of aquaculture practices, the expo exhibition and the State-wide training programme on vannamei farming have received encouraging response from the fish farming community.
The programme was organised with the support of Choice Trading Corporation Limited. Central Institute of Brackish Water Aquaculture (CIBA), Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) and MPEDA also are cooperating with KUFOS.