Aqua sector should be a growth engine for AP, says Naidu

Amaravati: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday felt that outstanding results can be achieved in the aqua sector through technology.

Addressing the three-day Aquatech-2.0 conclave on the concluding day organised by the Global Forum for Sustainable Transformation (GFST), a non-profitable organisation, he expressed confidence that the aqua sector will certainly be a growth engine for strengthening the financial status of the State.

He felt that 30 per cent growth rate is possible in this sector by utilising technology and by adopting modern methods.

Naidu opined that there will be a great demand across the globe for the aqua products if organic methods are adopted as excellent results are being achieved through organic farming. He also felt the need to bring in radical changes in the feed in aquaculture.

The farmers can earn better revenue if the farm products are value-added, the Chief Minister noted.

Now aquaculture is on in about four lakh acres and this should reach to 10 lakh acres by 2029-30, he said adding the need that the aquaculture should be pollution-free.

Stating that pollution is the major problem in aquaculture, he said that there are several solutions for controlling pollution and this should be followed by the farmers and others related to this sector. Everyone should strictly follow the guidelines and register the details of aquaculture, the Chief Minister said and made it clear that stringent methods will be followed with regard to controlling pollution.

The three-day conclave that concluded discussed at length on the changes being adopted in the sector, opportunities available, issues being faced and the policies being adopted in aquaculture along with several other issues. The participants mainly focussed on bringing awareness among the famers on utilising technology in aquaculture to get better results.

Maintaining that he has a special interest in aqua secor, the Chief Minister said that the State is highly suitable for aquaculture and between 2014 and 19 aquaculture was the major revenue source for the State. Though the aqua production in countries like Vietnam is much lower than the nation but such countries are much ahead in valuation, he added.

Stating that there is every need to promote technology, the Chief Minister felt that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be used in aquaculture to the maximum extent possible to reduce the expenditure and to improve quality. AI can be used to analyse what kind of diseases are likely to hit and how to prevent them, he added.