Kochi: As the marine exports from the country are hit by ongoing global meltdown, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is planning to launch a brand campaign to promote Indian marine products.
Mr G. Mohan Kumar, Chairman, MPEDA, said that Indian marine products should reach the retail chains in the developed market as there had been a silent transition in the consumption pattern of seafood in the developed world. He pointed out that recession had hit the food budget of Americans and the entire demand for seafood is likely to change. Given the situation, it is necessary to address the needs of consumers in the changed market conditions, he added.
Mr Kumar was delivering the keynote address at a one-day national workshop on ‘Global Economic Recession and Fisheries Sector – Challenges and Preparedness,’ organised by the School of Industrial Fisheries of the Cochin University of Science and Technology in association with Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment and the Industrial Fisheries Alumni of CUSAT.
There has been a fall in the demand for shrimp, which accounted for 52 per cent of total marine exports from the country. With the fall in the demand for shrimp, he said, there would be greater demand for largest traded fish varieties in the global market. Besides export promotions, he suggested that the fishing operation be made cheaper. This would include providing power at reduced tariff for fish processing centres so as to make them competitive.
Job loss feared
Earlier, inaugurating the workshop, the State Fisheries Minister, Mr S. Sarma, said that the global financial crisis would have an impact on the fishery sector in the State, resulting in the decline of marine exports by one third. The fall in exports is likely to cause loss of nearly 20,000 jobs in the near future, he said.
The Minister said that the fishery sector, like all export-oriented sectors in the State, had been hit by the ongoing economic crisis. He also quoted a study by Centre for Development Studies, which said that said that the marine and fishery exports had fallen by 25 to 30 per cent since the economic downturn began.
It was pointed out by seafood exporters that apart from reduction of 25 to 30 per cent in supply orders, there have been mass cancellations of supply orders, the Minister said.
Mr B. Madhusoodhana Kurup, Head of the School of Industrial Fisheries and Advisor in Fisheries Affairs to the Minister, presided over the workshop. Technical sessions on a variety of topics were held.
Source : The Hindu