Union Minister launches and inaugurates three national flagship programmes at ICAR-CIBA campus, Chennai

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister launches and inaugurates three national flagship programmes at ICAR-CIBA campus, Chennai” published in the PIB on 27th February 2023.

What is the News?

Recently, the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has inaugurated and launched three national flagship programmes. These are a) the Genetic Improvement Programme of Indian White Shrimp, b) Phase II of the National Surveillance Programme on Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD), and c) Shrimp Crop Insurance.

About the Genetic Improvement Programme of Indian White Shrimp

Need: The farmed shrimp alone contributes about 70% of India’s seafood exports worth Rs. 42000 crores. However, the shrimp farming sector mostly depends on one exotic Specific Pathogen Free stock of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) species.

Aim: To break single species’ dependence on shrimp and to promote indigenous species vis-à-vis exotic shrimp species.

Focus species: ICAR-CIBA (Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture) has taken up the genetic improvement of programme of Indian white shrimp, P. indicus as a national priority under the Make in India flagship program.

About National Surveillance Programme on Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD)

Need: India is the third-largest fish-producing country with a fish production of 14.73 million metric tonnes and one of the largest exporters of farmed shrimps around 7 lakh tonnes.

However, the country loses about 7200 crores annually due to diseases. Therefore, early detection and managing the spread of diseases is considered crucial for controlling the diseases.

Note: The government launched NSPAAD in 2013 with a major emphasis on strengthening farmer-based disease surveillance system. Under it, disease cases are reported, investigated and scientific support is provided to the farmers. The results of the first phase proved the reduction in revenue losses due to diseases, increased farmers’ income and exports. 

The Government has sanctioned the NSPAAD: Phase-II under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana programme. It will be implemented at pan-India level.

About Shrimp Crop Insurance

Need: Shrimp farming is labelled as “risky venture” and banking and insurance institutions are cautious to take up business in the shrimp sector. But, India achieved about 430% growth in shrimp production during the last decade which explains the overall profitability, growth and stability of the shrimp farming sector.

Hence, ICAR-CIBA has developed a Shrimp Crop Insurance product.

Potential: CIBA has estimated Rs 1000 to 1500 crores as the business potential of shrimp crop insurance per year and a micro-credit requirement of over Rs. 8,000 to 10,000 crores per annum.