S. Vishnu Sharma
Aquaculture entrepreneurship – One day national seminar organised by Tamilnadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University (TNFU) on ‘Accelerating Business Start-ups in Aquaculture’ explored the entrepreneurial prospects in aquaculture sector. Objective of the workshop was to familiarize students with these prospects.
Chairman and Managing Director of Achi group of companies A.D. PadamsinghIssac inaugurated the workshop that took place at the premises of Institute of Fisheries Post Graduate Studies (IFPGS) in Chennai. Dean of Dr. MGR Fisheries College and Research Institute Dr. B. Ahilan said government alone will not be able to provide jobs to many graduates who are coming out of our colleges every year. Self-employment is the only way to solve unemployment problem.
TNFU highlights aquaculture entrepreneurship
TNFU vice chancellor Professor S. Felix said there were two groups of people, while one lacked the technical expertise related to fisheries sector, the other group comprised people who are making attempts to enter the fisheries market. He said many who were trained from the university were venturing into entrepreneurship in the fisheries segment. He mentioned about Re-circulatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Aquaponics. The two innovative programmes of TNFU became popular among the first generation entrepreneurs, he said.
PadamsinghIssac said there were two group of entrepreneurs namely industrial entrepreneurs and speculative entrepreneurs. Industrial entrepreneurs create value for commodity and its commodity derivatives, revenue for families and income for the country. The export of fish and fishery products has great revenue potential.
The sector earned Rs 35,000 crores which less, when the actual export trade in the sector can reach Rs 1,00,000 crores in just two years, he said. Branding and certification are the corner stones for achieving the growth potential.
We even need to improve hygiene in the areas fish is sold, he said. Fish is tasty but the unhygenic atmosphere at the place where fish is sold prevents many from coming to buy it. Dr. V.S. Chandrasekaran retired scientist from Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), fisheries expert Dr. Santanakrishnan, G. Ramakrishna Rao, senior executive at National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) were among those who enlightened the participants on various issues related to aquacultre entrepreneurship.