There is an ample of potential for growth of aqua culture in Odisha as well as in the district of Baleswar which lies still untapped. The young mass should come forward for self employment and better profitability in the sector, observed the Union Minister MSME , Fisheries , Animal Husbandry and Dairying Pratap Chandra Sarangi in the inaugural meeting ‘ Aqua Expo Odisha-2020’ that kicked off here on Saturday.
He said that in order to achieve the target of the 5-trillion economy of the Narendra Modi Government in next five years, efforts should be made and every sector should contribute. The need of hour is to boost the confidence level of farmers by imparting technology, knowledge, training and extending financial help to the fish farmers, said Sarangi. He further stressed on the organic feeds which would keep the fish free from diseases.
Sarangi also said several plans and proposals were in the pipeline which would be implemented phase-wise and he had a discussion with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The three-day fair is organised here after a gap of two years jointly by the Aqua feed Dealers Association, the Seafood Export Association of India and the Odisha Shrimp Farmers Association.
Attending the function as guest, Balasore Chamber of Industries and Commerce (BCIC) Himansu Das said that in Baleswar and Bhadrak while there were about 8,000 shrimp farmers, 10 had become exporters which was a big achievement for the district as well as
Odisha.
OSFA president Sanjay Mohanty observed that the sea food export had a special demand in overseas market, especially for shrimp and crabs in Malaysia. More encouragements to the sector could enhance the growth of the sector, he added.
District Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy, OSFA senior member Kamlesh Mishra , president FDA Pravat Ranjan Patnaik and organising secretary of the event Sangram Das among others spoke. The fair while would culminate on Monday, about 120 stalls of various companies from India and abroad pertaining to aqua farming, including machineries, feeds and medicines were put up.
