Media Release

Mangaluru, Jun 22: Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Nitte University and Government of Odisha was signed on Tuesday, June 20 in the secretariat of the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Resource Development, government of Odisha.

The government of Odisha awarded a consultancy contract of rupees One Crore to Nitte University to prepare a road map and action plan to increase fishery exports tenfold in five years.

Nitte University was selected from among several national and international bidders for this contract.

Dr Damodar Rout, minister for Agriculture, Farmers Empowerment, Fisheries and Animal Resource Development and Public Enterprises, government of Odisha, presided over the function on the exchange of Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Nitte University and government of Odisha. Dr Bijay Upadhyaya, director of Fisheries, Odisha and Dr Iddya Karunasagar, senior director, International Relations, Nitte University signed and exchanged the MoA in the august presence of Dr Damodar Rout, Vishal Gagan , commissioner of Fisheries, Odisha, and professor Dr Ramananda Shetty, vice chancellor, Nitte Univerisity.

Dr Iddya Karunasagar made a presentation explaining the workplan, methodology emphasising on the overarching principles of sustainability, compliance with international requirements of quality and safety, following guidelines and standards set by international organisations like Codex Alimentarius Commission , Food and Agriculture Organization , World health organization and World Animal Health Organisation.

The minister explained that Odisha has a glorious history and was in the forefront of all aspects of life before colonial rule. He mentioned on the state’s rich aquatic resources and the potential to develop seafood industry. However, he informed that there are technological gaps, which need to be addressed. He welcomed the expertise coming from the team constituted by Nitte University and agreed that meeting international standards of sustainability, quality and safety is of paramount importance.

Nitte University will carry out this work involving an international team of highly experienced professionals led by Dr Iddya Karunasagar, who retired recently from the FAO of United Nations and currently working as senior director, International Relations, Nitte University.

Other team members include Vishnu Bhat, retired Fisheries Development Commissioner, government of India, Dr Srijit Mishra, director of Nabakrushna Choudhury Center for Development Studies, Bhubaneswar, Gangesh Varma, director of Varma Ocean Products Pvt Ltd and Dr Ramachandra Bhatta, Emeritus Professor of Indian Council of Agricultural Research( ICAR). The team will also involve other experts from FAO and other international organisations.

The Nitte University team will carry out study involving stakeholders like aquaculture producers, input suppliers like feed producers and suppliers, seafood processors and exporters. The action plan and road map to be developed by Nitte University will be based on systematic study of the resources, infrastructure, technical skills required to increase productivity and value addition following international guidelines for sustainability, traceability, product safety and quality.