Vizag is soon to get a modern seafood processing and cold storage facility on the lines of those in Japan and China to reach the demand in Europe, South America and Central America.
To know more about the facilities, two officials were sent to Japan and China by the state government. Frozen products, dried products, canned food, fish meal, fish liver products and algae glue are some of the major products that are exported. “AP State Warehousing Corporation chairman LVSRK Prasad visited Japan and China to study their seafood processing and cold storage facilities upon government instructions. He has been asked to submit a report regarding his visit to the agriculture and cooperation (marketing) department,” said a senior official.
Reportedly, a team visited the port city to find suitable land to set up the facility; however no official announcement about the project has been made yet.
This facility will be very useful in preserving seafood. Speaking about the same, Dr VV Rao, joint director of fisheries department said, “Seafood will be preserved in minus 20 degree Celsius. There are nearly 12 export-oriented seafood plants in Visakhapatnam alone and nearly 2.25 lakh metric tonne of seafood was exported from AP last year. We have a good potential.”
Arjilli Dasu, executive director of Fisherfolk Foundation, said countries like Europe and the US prefer Indian seafood because of their hygienic condition. He also added that if we have requisite number of processing plants there will be a gradual rise in the export value of it and also youth will get employment in fishing industry.
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