GITAM Deemed to be University School of Science has announced its readiness to extend research and development (R&D) support to shrimp farmers to address technical challenges and environmental issues in aquaculture.
The announcement was made by K.S. Krishna, dean of the School of Science, during the inauguration of a workshop titled ‘GITAM Initiatives to Overcome Constraints in Shrimp Farming’, organised by the biotechnology division of the department of life sciences.
Mr. Krishna highlighted the remarkable growth of the Indian seafood sector, which has surpassed $8 billion in exports over the past three decades. He identified polluted water sources, excessive feeding, overstocking and the misuse of antibiotics and chemicals as the major factors leading to water quality deterioration and reduced productivity in shrimp farming.
Emphasising sustainable aquaculture practices, he called for the integration of advanced water quality management technologies. He further mentioned that GITAM School of Science operates a DST-supported water quality management laboratory equipped with high-end technology to assist shrimp farmers in improving production and maintaining a stable value chain.
A.K. Reddy, director of the AU-AVANTI Aquaculture Skill Development Centre, shared insights into the development of herbal products for treating diseases in aquaculture, which have shown promising results. He urged the government to establish model hatcheries to provide solutions to shrimp farmers.
K. Phani Prakash, coordinator of the Centre, highlighted their efforts in training 650 youth in shrimp farming technologies across five major labs and conducting skill enhancement programmes for industry professionals.
V.V.S.S. Sharma, in-charge director of CSIR-NIO, advised shrimp farmers to bring their field challenges to academic institutions to find solutions.
P.V. Nageswara Rao, secretary of the All India Shrimp Farmers Association, raised concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is a significant issue resulting from disease treatment practices in shrimp cultivation. He recommended periodic water quality testing at shrimp farms and urged the GITAM faculty to support farmers in adopting healthier practices.
Source: The Hindu
