BHUBHANESWAR, 12 July 2016 :  In order to boost fisheries sector in the state, Odisha has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with WorldFish, a global non-profit research organisation, for sustainable aquaculture operations through improved technology and farming systems.

The MoU will be for the period of five years and the state government will invest $3.8 million towards the project, under which the organization will held the state government to boot fisheries sector by improving the value chain and marketing of Odisha products, planning and management of existing resources as well as skill upgradation.

The agreement was signed between Michael Phillips, programme leader, Aquaculture, WorldFish and Fisheries Secretary Bishnu Sethi in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Speaking after signing the agreement, Sethi said, Odisha offers vast scope for development in fisheries sector and we look forward to an integrated development in collaboration with WorldFish.

We have been working in neighbouring Bangladesh for many years and have had great success in scaling up production with new technologies and training. We are honoured to be working with Odisha and look forward to bring some of that expertise to the State in the coming years,” Phillips said.

Sethi said WorldFish will facilitate aquaculture operations through quality fish seed technology and farming systems. A long term goal will foster a sustainable aquaculture sector in which the private sector would be more willing to invest.

The State has 676,000 hectare (ha) of fresh water area which includes 125,000 ha tanks/ponds, 200,000 ha of reservoirs, 180,000 ha of lakes, swamps and jheels and 171,000 ha of rivers and canals.

Sethi also added that apart from this, brackish water and marine resources are also available wherein shrimps and fish are produced, captured and marketed in and outside the State.