INDIA ORGANIC AQUACULTURE PROJECT (IOAP)

MPEDA proposes to implement organic aquaculture in India by availing the consultancy and technical collaboration from the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), Zurich, Switzerland. In this context, MPEDA has signed a MoU with SIPPO on 11.1.2007 at Chennai during INDAQUA 2007 to launch the programme.

The brackish water area available  in India for shrimp farming includes the existing traditional prawn filtration fields also, which are located in West Bengal (46100 ha) and Kerala (10700 ha).  These vast  filtration areas are actually paddy fields, belonging to several entrepreneurs, who do salt resistance paddy cultivation by themselves and later auction the area, after paddy cultivation for doing the seasonal traditional prawn filtration, when the water become saline in nature due to inundation .  The traditional type of prawn filtration system is highly environment-friendly as they use no antibiotics, chemicals, etc and hence the paddy fields can easily be adopted for organic aquaculture. Organic aquaculture ensures that the farming activity is in harmony with the nature, with due care for the good health and welfare of the cultured organisms.  Organic products have become very popular now a days due to rise in health and environmental awareness, concerns on food safety and there is a growing demand in developed countries, especially; US, EU, etc.  The premium for the organic products is also high in the international markets. MPEDA conducted earlier three workshops exclusively for  Organic aquaculture; one each in the States of Kerala, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh in association with INFOFISH and Naturland  where technical sessions were held by the  concerned technical officials, to create awareness among the entrepreneurs about organic farming.

The proposal submitted by MPEDA to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt of India, envisages the implementation of organic aquaculture project for brackish water shrimp Penaeus  monodon (tiger shrimp) and the fresh water giant prawn,  Macro brachium  rosenbergii (scampi), in the States of Kerala & West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, initially.   SIPPO will extent technical assistance through its consultant, BLUEYOU by conducting a few  training programmes followed by demonstration for organic tiger shrimp and scampi cultures in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.  Capacity building in organic aquaculture for MPEDA technical officials, will be a key component by making use of the expertise to be acquired during the  programme. The MPEDA will  implement the programme in West Bengal under the supervision of the SIPPO technicians, later.