Kochi: The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA) has indigenously developed a top quality live feed, which can stimulate India’s shrimp and fish seed production and reduce its dependence on imports from US and China.
Artemia, the most important live feed in shrimp and fish hatcheries, has been developed by RGCA, the research wing of the Marine Products Export Development Agency (MPEDA), under the brand name ‘Pearl’.
“India currently imports around 300 tonnes of Artemia worth Rs 300 crore in dried cyst form annually, mainly from USA and China,” MPEDA chairman K.S. Srinivas said. “It is an important consumable in shrimp and fish hatcheries for the larvae of farmed aquatic organisms,”
“There is a huge potential for Artemia live feed in the country and its operations can be expanded on a large scale in states like Maharashtra and Gujarat,” Mr Srinivas said.
India is looking to double its seafood exports in terms of value from the present $7 billion to $15 billion by 2024 through introduction of new varieties, and expansion of aquaculture cultivation to new areas. “Our indigenous pearl brand of Artemia is a big step in realising this ambitious target,” Mr. Srinivas said
The price of imported brands of Artemia costs around Rs 5,300 for 450 grams in India, whereas the ‘Pearl’ brand Artemia developed indigenously is priced at Rs 3,500 for 450 grams. “The cost can be brought down further once the production increases,” he pointed out.
Artemia is first produced in the facilities of MPEDA-RGCA at Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu, with a total capacity of 500 kg per year. However, the country has a potential area of 12,000 hectares that could be utilized for its production, the official said.
