The Marine Products Export Development Authority or MPEDA has started a multi-lingual call centre for fish farmers in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, to solve their technical issues and provide information on efficient farming methods suggested by the experts round-the-clock.
KS Srinivas, Chairman of MPEDA, said that the call centre would help aquacultural staff in Andhra Pradesh by providing them guidance from seasoned specialists on their issues & Best Management Practices (BMPs) to boost productivity & guarantee product quality.
He urged the aqua farmers to use the IVRS facility at Vijayawada, to clear up their technological doubts from the specialists using a toll-free number 1800-425-4648. Farmers will also be helped in finding out about the various service systems extended by the MPEDA'S field offices. In the total maritime export basket, Andhra Pradesh accounts for more than 60%.
Director of MPEDA, Dr Karthikeyan the small-scale aquaculture farmers are facing problems in getting right guidance & technical support, particularly during the culture period of cultivation. He said, "It forces them to take advice from inexperienced experts and feed/input suppliers who hold sway over a majority of farmers as this often leads to crop failures & quality issues”.
Praising the Marine Products Export Development Authority for taking the initiative, Fisheries Commissioner Kanna Babu assured full support of state government in this regard.
