Date:31/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/31/stories/2008103162021100.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Organic prawn harvesting tomorrow

Special Correspondent

Minister to inaugurate the programme

The programme was launched in 2007
Andhra Pradesh was also selected for the project

KOCHI: The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) will harvest organic fresh water prawn on November 1 at Mampuzhakary and Kuttanad in Alappuzha district.

Fisheries Minister S. Sarma will inaugurate the programme, MPEDA Chairman Mohan Kumar will deliver the keynote address.

The organic farming programme, first of its kind in India, was launched in 2007 with the technical support of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Kerala and Andhra Pradesh were selected for the India Organic Aquaculture project. The scheme will be extended to other States later.

Organic farming has different components such as organic hatchery, feed mill, farm and processor exporter. A Thrissur-based hatchery was selected to produce organic seeds of ‘scampi’.

More than three lakh seeds were supplied to four farmers in Kuttanad. The four farms have a water spread area of 20 hectares.

A hatchery, based at Kodungalloor, has been selected for producing shrimp seed and the process of seed production is underway.

The organic products have to be certified by an international certification body in order to sell the products. Naturland of Germany was selected for the purpose. The Aluva-based Indocert is the inspection body for the project in Kerala, according to a press release.