To develop export-oriented organic aqua farming in India and to cater to the growing demand for organic seafood products across the globe, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with COOP Cooperative, one of Switzerland’s biggest retail and wholesale companies. As a start up to this joint venture, a pilot project will be started in Kerala in 1000 ha WSA to produce organic black tiger shrimp. Later it will be extended to other states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal. The MoC was signed by Dr. A. Jayathilak, Chairman MPEDA with Gerhard Zurlutter, member of management, COOP, during the 21st India International Seafood Show 2018 held at Goa from 21st-27th Jan’18). Under the project, MPEDA would assist in identifying entrepreneurs and provide them with technical advice on the production of high-quality organic shrimp that meet national and international certification protocols. COOP, which has nearly 2,200 sales outlets throughout Switzerland and wholesale/production business active across Europe, has already offered to procure the processed organic shrimp at a premium of up to 15% and with an additional 5% through financing for development activities, including training. Besides, MPEDA and COOP will facilitate the certification of a shrimp hatchery for the production of organic shrimp seed. A small scale feed mill unit to source the organic feed for the project will be empanelled and certified.
Source: Aquaculture Spectrum