Kerala Aqua Ventures International Ltd (KAVIL), a public-private partnership headed by the State Government to promote ornamental fishery, has formally begun exports of ornamental fishes.
The first consignment comprising around 4,000 pet fishes in 15 cartons was airlifted to Paris from Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery on Monday morning.
Trade enquiries
The State Fisheries Minister and Vice-Chairman of KAVIL, Mr S. Sarma, said that besides France, the company had received trade enquiries from China and Hong Kong.
The aim is to capture about 10 per cent of the $ 7 billion market for ornamental fishes within the next seven years, he said, adding that the company had also plans to set up import hubs in New York and China as part of streamlining the supply chain.
Homestead farms
Plans are also afoot to develop about 10,000 homestead farms on which the State Government will give a subsidy of Rs 50,000 per farm.
The construction of six out of the 12 proposed export hubs with facilities for the pre-export conditioning of the fish and packing for export transportation is nearing completion, he said.
KAVIL also incorporates fish producers from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and has set up both homestead and satellite farms in these States.
Source : Business Line