Bhubaneswar: A long-cherished dream of Odisha’s mud crab farmers is about to be realized. Under the financial support of the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department ECRICC- GCF, the State’s first Mud Crab Hatchery with a production capacity of 500,000 seed units will be constructed in Paradip at an investment of Rs 2.81 cr.
This will reduce the mud crab farmers’ dependence on the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture in Chennai, saving their time and money significantly. It will also elevate their economic standing and foster increased interest in mud crab farming among the community, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganeshram Singh Khuntia expressed after approving the signing of the agreement for this much-anticipated project.
A tripartite agreement between the Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department’s ECRICC – GCF (providing financial support), the Odisha Fisheries Directorate, and the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (offering technical expertise), will be finalized shortly to facilitate implementation.
Minister Khuntia also expressed optimism that this centre will bring a transformative change in the fortunes of mud crab farmers. He expected that Odisha will emerge as a vibrant hub of mud crab seed production.
The ECRICC project is already supporting coastal districts like Puri, Ganjam, Balasore, and Kendrapara. Initiatives include seagrass and salt marsh restoration with IIT Bhubaneswar’s support, scientific mud crab farming with high returns and export potential, seaweed cultivation support for 70 farmers, SRI-based training for 28,201 farmers, and empowerment of 304 women as climate champions.
