College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences (GADVASU), had organised An Industry- Farmer- Academia Webinar on “Covid-19 Crisis: Mitigation Strategies for Shrimp Farmers of Punjab”, under the leadership of Dr. Prakash Singh Brar, Dean of College of Veterinary Sciences, Principal Investigator- ICAR, NAHEP, Institutional Development Project (IDP).
It is important to mention that shrimp is a highly remunerative aquaculture export commodity. In Punjab, area under shrimp farming has increased from 15 ha in 2017 to 130 ha in 2019 and could have crossed 200 ha mark in 2020, if the COVID-19 would have not hit the world to lockdown. The total supply chain from shrimp seed production to processing as well as export has been badly affected.
Therefore, the webinar was organised to promote resurgence among the baffled shrimp farmers of Haryana & Punjab. Fisheries students also took part in the event to understand the impact of ongoing lockdown on shrimp industry from farmer & industry perspectives, in order to develop a better vision to tackle such situations in future.
An eminent shrimp entrepreneur cum industrialist Dr. Manoj Sharma, who is also Director Mayank Aquaculture Private Limited in Gujarat, apprised the participants of Indian shrimp industry scenario & strategies to sustainability. Dr Sharma emphasized that demand for food will never subside and international demand will increase once export resumes. With the message “Food is a Necessity; Not an Option”, farmers were advised to stock their ponds, as food production has been affected globally and their crops will definitely fill the gap, both at national as well as international levels.
Dr. Meera D. Ansal of the College of Fisheries said that dependence of shrimp industry on export is the root cause of uncertainties and can be improved if a strong domestic market is there to buffer such crisis. Dr Meenal advised farmers to wait for another 30 to 45 days; as one crop can be harvested before the month of November, even if the ponds are stocked by June 30. Farmers were also suggested to form an association to overcome such unforeseen calamities in future.
Webinar was coordinated by Dr. Prabjeet Singh & Dr. S.N. Datta, Assistant Professors, College of Fisheries.
