This document discusses expectations and demands for India's aquafeed industry to become more self-reliant. It notes that India is highly dependent on other countries for machinery, fishmeal, hatchery feeds, and feed premixes. It calls for developing alternatives to fishmeal through sea ranching prolific fish varieties and allocating funds for industry research. The document also discusses demands from farmers to diversify farmed species beyond shrimp and carp to include other high-value fish. It suggests promoting species like seabass, murrel, and tilapia as alternatives. Overall, the document advocates for greater collaboration between industry and research to develop indigenous solutions and technologies to strengthen India's aquaculture sector.

1. Aquafeed industry’s
expectations for self reliant
fish production system
Dr. Y. Mahesh Babu, M.F.Sc., Ph.D
Head – Technical
Deepak Nexgen Foods and Feeds Pvt Ltd

2. Atmanirbhar bharat – Areas to focus
• We are depending on other countries majorly for 4 things in
feed sector.
• Machinery
• Fishmeal/Animal protein
• Hatchery feeds
• Feed premixes (Lack of advanced R&D facilities)
• Apart from the above three, we are locally sourcing other raw
materials/requirements to produce the feed. Still we need to
find out the alternatives for each raw material to meet the
requirement.

3. Expectations from the feed industry
• Since we are highly depending on the wild fish for the fish meal, it is over
exploited and some times we are facing issues in procuring the quality fish
meal. To overcome this, we have to find an alternative source for the fish
meal.
• Enforcing the GST on fishmeal also lead to increase the feed prices which has
indirectly impacted the farmers with increase in production cost.
• Sea ranching of the prolific breeding variety fishes which will not harm the
local fauna should be developed to increase the fishery resources to meet the
demand for fishmeal.
• Collaboration of private industry is very much needed to better understand the
changing needs and finding solutions with R&D activities.
• Allocating funds or subsidies for the in house R&D facilities to encourage the
feed industry to do various experiments.

4. Expectations from the feed industry
• Simple procedure for exports can facilitate the feed companies to full
utilize their production capacity which will also help to earn foreign
exchange.
• Analysis of various feed premixes like enzymes and their presence
after the feed production should be available at the govt. institutes.
• Fish oil should be allowed to import.
• Forming a committee to encourage the local consumption by bringing
awareness among the people just like NECC (National Egg
Coordination Committee).
• Increasing demand from the farmers with species diversification.

5. Demand from the farmer side
• We are highly depending on few species for the aquaculture
in India.
• Shrimp and carps are the only two major segments farmers
are depending. Some extent people are doing Pangasius
(Pangasianodon bocourti). As a result there is always price
fluctuation whenever there is high production.
• Now fish farmers are shifting to Roopchand (Piaractus
brachypomus) but availability of the seed is limited.
• Need to focus on the fishes with high value with the
compatibility for high density, faster growth and seed

6. Demand from the farmer side
• Species diversification and crop rotation should be implemented with suitable
fishes like Seabass, Murrel, Anabas, Pengba, Crab, etc…
• Mono sex Tilapia is a good alternative for the export which can help feed industry
to well utilize their production capacity.
• Maintaining brood bank of the commercially important fishes and supply to the
hatcheries to avoid in breeding.
• Development of SPR brooders with selective breeding is very much needed to
address the issues of Aeromonas infection and Columnaris diseases.
• Introducing and standardising seed production and farming of more high value
fishes and live feed production technology.
• Method demonstration of such technologies to the stakeholders once in a quarter
can be very helpful in increasing the fish production.
• Scientists visit to the farms where such new technology being implemented can
encourage more farmers to adopt the technology.

7. Implications on PMMSY
• Since we have government officials here, I would like to add few more
points regarding the PMMSY and FIDF funds. Though it is out of my
topic, I feel it should be put Infront of the honourable Chief Executive
of NFDB.
• Reservation should be allocated for professional fisheries graduates
(B.F.Sc from ICAR accredited colleges) across India.
• We have very few Fisheries colleges in India with only few 100’s of
graduates every year. Most of them are seeking for govt. jobs or join
private sector.

8. Implications on PMMSY
• If we can give them the opportunity with some reservation or
allocating equivalent subsidy which is being given for women
entrepreneur can drive them to become entrepreneurs.
• I am very sure that, they have the ability to develop some indigenous
techniques with their capability of exploration during the progression
of their project.
• In fact they can also help the neighbouring farmers in improving their
farming skills. I strongly believe that, this can be a grate option in
reaching the purpose of the PMMSY scheme.

9. Thank
you
Jai Hind