India ranks second in marine product output

India has emerged as the world's second largest producer of farmed fish (aquaculture) but its total production is merely 1/20th of that of China which holds the number one position.

India's share in the global aquaculture output is 4.2 per cent in terms of both volume and value. The share of China, on the other hand, is 69.6 per cent in terms of production and 51.2 per cent in value.

According to the State of the World Aquaculture: 2006 report compiled by the UN. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), nine of the world's 10 largest aquaculture producing countries are in Asia. Chile, in the tenth place, is the only country outside this region to have made it to the top ten.

The ten countries, in terms of ranking, are China, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea republic, Bangladesh and Chile.

The report has reckoned India's farmed fish output (2004) at 2.47 million tonnes, against China's 41.32 million tonnes. The value of India's total reared fisheries output is assessed at $ 2.93 million, against China's $ 35.99 million.

Much of the Indian aquaculture harvest comprise cyprinids, such as carps, while China's aquaculture sector displays much larger diversity in terms of fish species. The annual per capita consumption of fish in India has steadily risen from 2.9 kg prior to 1981 to 4.7 kg post-2000.

However, though Japan ranks way below India in terms of total aquaculture production, its global share in terms of value is higher, at 6 per cent, than India's because of larger output of high-value fish. The total aquaculture production of Japan is put at 1.26 million tonnes, valued at $ 4.24 million.

Chile also produces more of high-value products in its fisheries farms. Though its production is estimated at only 0.69 million tonnes, less than 1/3rd of India's, the value of the produce is around $ 2.81 million, only marginally lower than India's $ 2.93 million.

The report points out that fast growth of aquaculture has helped enhance consumption of fish, playing an important role in food security. "Thanks to aquaculture development, even species which used to be considered luxury, such as salmon and shrimps, are now more affordable," it states.

The surge in production through improved technology has brought down prices, it adds.