Aquaculture scientists have decoded the genome of an indigenous variety of white shrimp P. indicus that will not only make India self-reliant but also improve the country’s export income.
India’s seafood exports are estimated at ₹42,000 crore and the farming sector relies on an exotic, genetically improved imported Pacific white shrimp called Vannamei. Globally, this variety is the dominant species used for export.
Farmed shrimp contribute to as much as 70% of the country’s sea food export market. The mother shrimp, P. Vannamei is imported and cultivated on farms and then, exported. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, ₹25.04 crore has been allocated in the first phase to identify an Indian shrimp variety that can be genetically improved. A total of ₹100 crore has been allocated for the project.
