MPEDA ties up with Swiss cooperative

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The Memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between COOP Cooperative and Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) at the ongoing India International Seafood Show 2018.
MoU is to develop export-oriented organic aqua farming in India to cater to the growing demand for organic seafood products across the European Union.
COOP Cooperative is one of the leading retail and wholesale companies in Switzerland.

MoU between MPEDA and COOP

The MPEDA will identify the entrepreneurs and provide them technical advice on the production of high-quality organic shrimp that meet national and international certification protocols.
COOP has nearly 2,200 sales outlets throughout Switzerland and wholesale/production business activities across Europe.
It has offered to procure the processed shrimp at a premium of up to 15% and with an additional 5% through financing for development activities, including training.

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Incentive for farmers

The reason why many farmers are hesitant to get into organic production is the involved increased costs.
The premium price offered will offset the extra cost and incentivise them to explore organic farming.

Pilot project

The pilot project will be run in Kerala to produce Organic Black Tiger Shrimp, initially on about 1000 hectares.
If it is successful, the project will be extended to other places.
MPEDA and COOP will facilitate the certification of a shrimp hatchery for the production of organic shrimp seed, and certify and empanel a small-scale feed mill unit to source the organic feed.
Kochi-based JASS Ventures and Baby Marine International will collaborate with COOP to organise the supply chain in Kerala and process the produce.

Marine Products Export Development Authority

It was set up by an act of Parliament during 1972.
The erstwhile Marine Products Export Promotion Council established by the Government of India in September 1961 was converged in to MPEDA in 1972.

Mandate

MPEDA is given the mandate to promote the marine products industry with special reference to exports from the country.
It is envisaged that this organisation would take all actions to develop and augment the resources required for promoting the exports of all varieties of fishery products commercially known as shrimp, prawn, lobster, crab, fish, shell-fish, other aquatic animals or plants or part thereof and any other products which the authority may, by notification in the Gazette of India, declare to be marine products for the purposes of the Act.

Nodal agency

MPEDA is the nodal agency for the holistic development of seafood industry in India to realise its full export potential as a nodal agency.
Based on the recommendations of MPEDA, Government of India notified new standards for fishing vessels, storage premises, processing plants and conveyances.
MPEDA’s focus is mainly on:

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