Andhra Pradesh has become the third state in the country after Kerala and Maharashtra to get permission for tilapia culture, reports the NewIndianExpress.
Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), principal secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department, Manmohan Singh, said GO No:20 was issued on Nov 27, according to which which aqua farmers could take up tilapia culture under the supervision of the government.
He said efforts were on to tap the vast potential in marine and aqua sector in the state and that the Vijayawada region, considered the fisheries capital of the state, should play a key role.
“Genetically Improved Fishing of Tilapia (GIFT) has a vast global market and it can be easily cultured even in the seasonal water bodies like those available in Rayalaseema. All we need to do is improve the domestic market,” he said.
Manmohan Singh said awareness programmes would be created on the fish, which is also called aquatic chicken, to popularise it.
