Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s annual requirement of fish, meat and eggs remains substantial, with limited dependence on imports and no confirmed evidence of harmful chemical contamination, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallick informed the Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to aquestion by BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, the Minister in a written reply said the State’s annual fish requirement for 2024–25 is estimated at 9.06 lakh metric tonnes, while production stands higher at 11.92 lakh metric tonnes.
Despite surplus production, Odisha imports 29,731 metric tonnes of fish, primarily to meet demand for freshwater varieties. Of this, 28,871 MT comes from Andhra Pradesh, followed by 600 MT from West Bengal and 260 MT from Chhattisgarh.
Addressing concerns over the use of hormones and chemicals in fish farming, Mallick clarified that such inputs are used only in scientifically regulated and limited quantities. Hormones like Ovaprim and Ovatide are applied for induced breeding and monosex culture, particularly in species such as Rohu, Catla, Mrigal and Tilapia. Chemicals including lime, bleaching powder and potassium permanganate are used for pond preparation, water quality management and disease control.
“These practices are carried out under expert guidance, keeping environmental safety and human health in mind,” he said, adding that the government is providing training to farmers to ensure safe and responsible aquaculture practices.
On other protein sources, the Minister stated that Odisha’s annual meat requirement is 4.3 lakh metric tonnes, while egg consumption demand stands at 503 crore units.
To bridge the demand-supply gap, around 90 crore eggs are imported annually from States such as Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. At the same time, Odisha exports a similar quantity of eggs to West Bengal and the North-Eastern region, indicating a dynamic inter-state trade balance.
Regarding concerns over the use of harmful hormones or chemicals in meat and eggs, the Minister said no such information is available with the government.
