Government to introduce crab breeding in more states to boost exports.

KOCHI: Export of live crabs is set to get a shot in the arm with the government planning to introduce breeding of crabs in mangroves in more states.

Crab breeding in mangroves was started as a pilot scheme in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. The aim was to generate assured income for local fishermen, while also protecting the mangroves and increasing supply of crabs for export.

India annually exports about Rs 300 crore worth of live crabs which are airlifted mostly to Southeast Asia. Crab exports have not shown much growth in the last few years, mainly because of low availability.

"Based on the success of the Sindhudurg project, we have proposed to Green Climate Fund (GCF) to extend mangrove crab breeding to all districts of Maharashtra and to Andhra Pradesh and Odisha," said N Vasudevan, chief conservator of forests and head of mangrove cell, Maharashtra.

GCF is a fund under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to assist developing countries in evolving practices to counter climate change. "Mangroves, more than rainforests, help to counter climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide," he said. The Maharashtra government's recent order that mangroves in the state will be treated as reserve forest is expected to aid the project.

Several exporters have been unable to meet the demand because of shortage of live crabs. "Even when we export 80 kg, we have to pay the flight charges of 100 kg. At a time when the government has slashed export incentive, it is difficult to continue exports in the current circumstances ,"' said Titus Yesudas, owner of Jolly Marine Exports.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com