Odisha targets Rs 20,000 crore marine exports in five years

The Odisha government has set an ambitious target of exporting Rs 20,000 crore of marine products in the next five years by harnessing the available resources. The state is endowed with vast inland, marine and brackish water resources.

"We must have an ambitious plan to accelerate exports from the present level of rupees Rs 2000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore in next five years. We would also facilitate infrastructure development, improvement of fishing harbours and fish landing centres, provision of electricity, air cargo facility for live and chilled fish to boost exports. The trend of fish production from various sources has increased substantially in the recent years. There has also been a five-fold increase in exports. We have the goal to make it Rs 20000 crore in the coming five years", Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said at the inauguration of workshop on 'Growth and Export Potentials of Marine Products' here.

The exports have dipped to Rs 1880.50 crore in 2015-16 from Rs 2070 crore clocked in 2014-15 in the state.

The state government has promulgated Odisha Fisheries Policy, 2015 and brackish water land leasing policy is also in place for the fishing sector.

The state has 32000 hectares (ha) of brackish water resources out of which only 9000 ha are now under cultivation. The Vannamei shrimp culture has now spread to 5000 ha which the state government intends to increase substantially in coming years.

"We have got 24000 ha of government land suitable for brackish water aquaculture and all collectors must lease out land to eligible farmers on priority basis as per the policy", he added.

Patnaik said, the state government is planning to harness all resources judiciously and sustainably to augment fish production and exports.

"In 2036, the state will commemorate 100 years of its formation. The population of our state is likely to reach 5.77 crores 2036 and we have to keep in view the nutritional needs or the growing population", he added.

The demand for fish in the state by 2036 will be about 0.7 million tonne against the current production is 0.52 million. The Odisha government intends to increase the annual per capita fish consumption to 15 kg by 2020 from 11.06 kg presently.

"We have to increase fish production through horizontal expansion by new area development and vertical expansion by introduction of new technologies in the sector", Patnaik said.