KOCHI, 21 May 2021: Kings Infra Ventures Limited and Japan-based NEC Corporation achieved a remarkable landmark in Precision Aquaculture when the Proof of Concept (POC) project using Recirculated Aquaculture System (RAS) based shrimp Aquaculture along with Artificial Intelligence and IOT was launched on 3 May 2021.
The POC is a joint initiative by both the companies with the objective of utilizing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) such as Internet of Things (loT), networking, sensors technology, and Artificial Intelligence (Al) to improve the farming key performance indicators (KPIs) such as density, survivability and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) to create optimum growth conditions for shrimps.
The successful completion of the POC has the potential to disrupt the aquaculture technology globally by a multifold increase in growing densities with more predictability and traceability.
The inaugural ceremony was held at the POC Site in Tuticorin and Shaji Baby John, Chairman & Managing Director, Kings Infra Ventures Limited released the First seedlings in the experimental facility. The E-launch meeting which followed was attended by key members of the NEC team and the Kings Team.
Recently PTI reported quoting Shaji Baby John, the chairman and founder of Kings Infra that they expect to invest over Rs 45 crore for the expansion.
The company has 12 shrimp active ponds, in Tuticorin in southern Tamil Nadu which will be scaled up to 48 in the first phase and to 180 across 300 acres by the end of FY23.
NEC is a USD 28bn (FY2020) Japanese multinational information technology and electronics Company established in 1899 and employing over 100,000 people worldwide. In India, NEC’s presence has been significant especially in the various Government projects: (i) Development of the Aachaar Programs biometric system, (ii) Chennai - Andaman Nicobar submarine cable (iii) Bus Rapid Transit in Ahmedabad, Pune, Hubli, (iv) Safe City projects, (v) Logistics visualization service through a joint venture between NEC and National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC, ex DMICDC), (vi) Financial Inclusion in the rural areas partnering with Common Service Centers (CSC).
Kings have been the pioneers in the field of Aquaculture, introducing the first semi-intensive integrated Aquaculture project in the country, in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu in the year 1987, adapting Japanese technology to Indian conditions. By the year 1991, Kings established the record of the highest production per hectare and highest productivity in Asia of shrimp farming in a semi-intensive system of culture.
Image credit: greenbiz.com