With a fish production of 14.73 million metric tonnes, India is the third-largest producer of fish and one of the largest exporters of farmed shrimps, exporting approximately 7 lakh tonnes. However, diseases cost the country approximately 7200 crores per year. As a result, early detection and management of disease spread is regarded as critical for disease control.
Given the significance, the Government of India has been implementing the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) since 2013, with a focus on strengthening farmer-based disease surveillance systems so that disease cases are reported immediately, investigated, and scientific support is provided to farmers. The first phase's results demonstrated a reduction in revenue losses due to diseases, as well as increased farmer income and exports.
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has sanctioned the NSPAAD: Phase-II under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana programme of the Government of India in order to intensify efforts. Phase II will be implemented throughout India, and all State Fisheries Departments, as well as the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), are expected to play an important role in this nationally significant surveillance programme.
Farmed shrimp alone accounts for roughly 70% of India's seafood exports worth Rs. 42000 crores. However, the shrimp farming industry is primarily dependent on a single exotic species of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). It is extremely risky to rely on one species for 10 lakh tonnes of production, despite massive investments in farming infrastructure and the livelihoods of two lakh farm families directly and around ten lakh families indirectly involved in ancillary sectors.
As a result, in order to break this dependence on a single species and promote indigenous species over exotic shrimp species, ICAR-CIBA has designated the genetic improvement of the Indian white shrimp, P. indicus, as a national priority under the Make in India flagship programme. CIBA has successfully optimised the breeding protocol and demonstrated culture potential in coastal states using indigenous feed, indicus plus (35% protein).
Recognizing the significance of this initiative, the Government of India's Department of Fisheries has sanctioned the "Genetic improvement programme of Penaeus indicus (Indian white shrimp)-Phase-I" with a Rs.25 crore outlay under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) under the Central sector scheme to establish a National Genetic Improvement Facility for shrimp breeding. These initiatives will result in the "Atamanirbharata" for shrimp brood stock, which is currently imported from other countries.
Similarly, shrimp farming is labelled as a "risky venture," and as a result, banking and insurance institutions are wary of doing business in the shrimp sector. Contrary to popular belief, India has experienced a 430% increase in shrimp production over the last decade, which explains the overall profitability, growth, and stability of the shrimp farming industry. This giant leap was made possible by advances in scientific technology combined with stringent aquaculture regulations. Due to a lack of access to institutional credit and insurance, the majority of aquaculture farmers are small farmers with 2-3 ponds who face significant challenges in raising working capital for the crop.
The loss of one crop due to natural disasters or viral diseases causes farmers to fall into deep debt because they must repay crop loans as well as raise funds for the next crop season. According to CIBA, the annual business potential of shrimp crop insurance is Rs 1000 to 1500 crores, with a micro credit requirement of Rs 8,000 to 10,000 crores, which is now being serviced by informal creditors at higher interest rates. As a result, it is critical to establish farmers' access to insurance and institutional credit, which will aid in doubling farmers' income in a much shorter time frame.
With the assistance of Alliance Insurance brokers, ICAR-CIBA developed a Shrimp Crop Insurance product, which was filed with the IRDAI by Oriental Insurance Company Limited, New Delhi in October 2022. The product charges a differential premium based on location and individual farmer requirements ranging from 3.7 to 7.7% of input costs, and farmers are compensated to the tune of 80% of input cost loss in the event of total crop loss. That is, more than 70% crop loss.
During this event, Dr. L. Murugan, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying & Information Broadcasting, Govt. of India; Jatindra Nath Swain IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Karthik IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen welfare, Govt of Tamil Nadu, Balalji, Joint Secretary, Fisheries, and Dr. Joykrushna Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), ICAR were also present.
