TV
Mud crab farmers in Odisha are set to benefit as the state government plans to establish its first mud crab hatchery at Paradip, aiming to reduce dependence on the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA) in Chennai.
The hatchery, with an estimated production capacity of 5 lakh seeds, will be set up for Rs 2.81 crore under the Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC) project, supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). A tripartite agreement involving the ECRICC-GCF, Odisha Fisheries Directorate, and RGCA will be signed to facilitate the project.
On Odisha setting up the first crab hatchery under the ECRICC initiative, IFS State Project Director Prem Kumar Jha said, “We plan to establish a hatchery for crabs in Odisha. The eggs of the crabs are imported from Chennai. The proposed scheme involves collaboration with the Fisheries Department, which has provided land for the hatchery.”
“Technical support and financial assistance will be provided under this scheme. It will ensure local demand is met and boost local crab farming. It will be set up in Paradip, and the products will be supplied across Odisha,” Jha added.
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The initiative is expected to transform the livelihoods of mud crab farmers by saving time and costs, while also encouraging greater participation in crab farming. ECRICC-GCF is already supporting projects in Odisha’s coastal districts, including seagrass and saltmarsh restoration with IIT-Bhubaneswar’s assistance, scientific mud crab farming, seaweed cultivation, and SRI-based training programs.
