Lok Sabha Question No. 1251 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Impact of parasites on Shrimp Industry
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Putta Mahesh Kumar

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1251 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd      DECEMBER, 2024

## Impact of Parasites on Shrimp Industry

## 1251. SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्य पालन , पशु पालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any recent survey/study/ research into the losses suffered by shrimp farmers across India due to parasites and various similar infestations, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of losses suffered by shrimp farmers over the last five years across India, a State-wise, especially in Andhra Pradesh and particularly in Eluru District;
- (c) the details of the schemes/programmes/initiatives introduced to reduce the losses suffered by shrimp farmers in India, especially in Andhra Pradesh and particularly in Eluru District;
- (d) the details of the funds allocated and utilized for the purposes of above-mentioned schemes/programmes/  initiatives  during  the  last  five  years,  especially  in  Andhra Pradesh and particularly in Eluru District; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  activities/campaigns  to  raise awareness  regarding  the  issue  of  losses  suffered  by  Shrimp  farmers  due  to parasites/infestations, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a):  The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  reported  that  ICARCentral  Institute  of  Brackishwater  Aquaculture  (ICAR-CIBA),  Chennai  conducted  a study on economic loss due to diseases in aquaculture during 2021 to 2023. In total, about 2.1 lakh ton of produce was lost due to various diseases in the country. The estimated  annual  loss  due  to  various  shrimp  diseases  was  Rs.7112  crore,  which includes loss due to Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) of Rs. 3,977 crores; loss of Rs. 1670 crores due to White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) and loss of Rs.1465crores due to other diseases.

(b): The details of losses of the shrimp farming in the major shrimp producing states as reported by ICAR-CIBA (i) Andhra Pradesh: the total estimated loss of production due to shrimp diseases in Andhra Pradesh was Rs.3,975 crore, which include Rs.2275 crore  due  to  EHP,  Rs.  802  crores  due  to  WSSV  and  Rs.326  crore  due  to  other diseases, (ii) Tamil Nadu: the losses in Tamil Nadu were Rs.466 crore, which includes Rs.265 crore due to EHP, Rs. 127 crores due to WSSV and Rs.73 crore due to other diseases & (iii) Gujarat: the losses were Rs.266 crore, which includes Rs.110 crore due to EHP, Rs. 123 crore due to WSSV and Rs.32 crore due to other diseases.

(c): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) is implementing  National  Surveillance  Programme  for  Aquatic  Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) through 31 laboratories of ICAR Fisheries Institutes, Fisheries Universities/ Colleges across the country including all coastal States. The programme has  been  undertaken  for  both  active  and  passive  surveillance  of  major  shrimp diseases  of concern, providing  clinical  services  and  advocating  management strategies for controlling the diseases. Andhra Pradesh is one of the major partnering State  in  the  NSPAAD  programme  and  the  State  Institute  of  Fisheries  Technology (SIFT),  Kakinada  with  National  Accreditation  Board  for  Testing  and  Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited laboratories is the Nodal  Agency for the project in Andhra Pradesh, which collects the samples from all the districts periodically and test them for occurrence of listed diseases and report the incidence of diseases to  the ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR). In addition to this, the Government of Andhra Pradesh reported that 35 laboratories are established in the State, including Eluru District which collect water, soil and cultured animal samples and  test  them  for  the  occurrence  of  diseases  periodically,  and  that  the  field  level fisheries officers' conduct regular field visits and periodic inspections to shrimp ponds and identify specific diseases when encountered and suggest remedies.

(d):  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  has  reported  that  Rs.27.96  crore  has  been allocated and Rs.27.77 crore utilized in Andhra Pradesh under the NSPAD programme and the State Government Schemes to reduce the losses suffered by shrimp farmers in  Andhra  Pradesh.  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  has  also  reported  that  one Integrated Aqua Laboratory has been established in Bhimadole in Eluru District with an investment of Rs.27.00 Lakh and in addition to two existing laboratories at Eluru and Kaikaluru, and all the three laboratories are functioning. An amount of Rs.1.43 crore was utilized under the Matsya Sagu Badi and purchase of laboratory equipments in Eluru District as reported by Government of Andhra Pradesh.

(e): ICAR-CIBA conducted various training programmes to create awareness about diseases  causing  loss  in  shrimp  farms,  and  risk  management  survey  and  loss assessment in shrimp farming in Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai during 2024. Recently, ICAR-CIBA released shrimp crop insurance products to cover the loss due to various diseases. Oriental Insurance Company Ltd and Agricultural Insurance Company, with the technical guidance of ICAR-CIBA have released insurance products to cover the losses due to diseases and weather risks.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that they have taken various steps for  management  of  diseases  in  shrimp  farms  such  as  (i)  campaigns  to  create awareness among the aquaculture farmers on the issues of disease occurrence and the probable losses to Shrimp farmers due to parasites/infestation and the remedial measures,  (ii)  Rythu  Seva  Kendras  were  established  at  Village  level  to  extend extension services to aquaculture farmers and supply of certified aquaculture inputs like feed, and trainings on innovative and advanced technologies. 750 No. of Village Fishery Assistants (VFAs) are deployed in these centers for providing the extension services at Village Level, (iii) Matsya Sagu Badi: This is 'Aqua Farmers' Field School' and is an initiative for providing extension services and crop advisories to aquaculture farmers and dissemination of knowledge and technical skills in the field. The progress of  this  programmes  organized  is  monitored  through  digital  platform  regularly  (ematsykar portal) and (iv) Integrated Call Center: A dedicated Integrated Call Center has been established with 63 technical officers for agriculture and allied sectors for providing advisories to farmers and clearing fishers' queries by Experts, and a panel of experts are also identified from ICAR Fisheries Institutes, Fisheries Universities and Colleges for back end support for information dissemination.

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