New Delhi: Emphasizing the need to boost the domestic market for the sustainable growth of the shrimp industry, speakers and experts shared their thoughts on the collective efforts required from stakeholders during the two-day Shrimp Retail 2024 conference, held on December 5-6, 2024, in New Delhi.
The conference was inaugurated by Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, and Member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Food Processing & Cooperative, Government of India. Speaking at the inaugural session, Dr. Kuldeep K. Lal, Director of ICAR-CIBA, highlighted the central institute’s efforts toward the genetic improvement of Indian white shrimp and the promotion of intensive shrimp farming technologies for sustainable sectoral growth.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Joykrushna Jena, DDG-Fisheries Science, ICAR, emphasized the importance of infrastructure development for local markets and ensuring the availability of fish and shrimp at affordable prices.
In his opening address, Ramakantha Akula, CEO of The Waterbase Ltd., urged stakeholders to work concertedly to promote shrimp consumption within the country. Highlighting the immense potential of the domestic market, he suggested that companies focus on promoting value-added shrimp products through caterers and quick-service restaurants (QSRs). He also stressed the importance of engaging PR agencies and health experts to raise awareness about the health benefits of shrimp and dispel myths surrounding shrimp consumption.
During a panel discussion on forging partnerships to develop the domestic market, key players in the shrimp value chain discussed leveraging existing collaborative relationships between producers and consumers. The panelists included Dr. Victor Suresh, Former President of SAP; Anshuman Chand, Director of Alpha Marine Ltd.; Gulrez Alam, Managing Director of NFB Agro and Foods & Secretary of the Shrimp Feed Manufacturers Association; Dr. Kaushik Jingham, Director of Avighna Associates Private Ltd.; and Amit Sharma, Chief Business Officer of Indicold. The speakers pointed out the lack of reliable market information and data on the domestic shrimp market, which poses a significant challenge in devising efficient strategies for market development. Additionally, they highlighted the potential of using the existing cold chain network to expand the domestic shrimp market.
On the second day of the conference, Dr. Saurabh Bandyopadhyay, Project Leader at NCAER, discussed current and future trends in India’s fish and shrimp market. He also presented findings from a study titled Fisheries Demand and Future Prospects in India.
Delving into consumer behavior in the era of burgeoning online retail and quick commerce, industry insiders, including Shipra Gupta, Managing Director of Aqua Start United Industries; B.G. Vihal, Vice President of Sales & Procurement at Captain Fresh; Aniruddha Basu, Business Head (North, South, and East Regions) at FreshtoHome; and Shailendra Singh, Corporate Chef at Pride Hotels and Resorts, spoke about the technological transformations influencing consumer behavior and preferences. They discussed how emerging technologies could be leveraged to further promote the domestic shrimp market.
During a panel discussion on ‘Supply Chain Challenges and Solutions,’ speakers highlighted the importance of strengthening the supply chain from farm to fork for the development of the domestic market. K. Jeevanandam, National Category Head (Egg, Fish & Meat) at Big Basket, presented his perspectives on the supply chain issues in the domestic market. Other panelists, including Dr. Saurabh Shekhar, Managing Director of Nutreco South Asia; Dr. Pramod Kumar Prabhakar, Assistant Professor at NIFTEM; and Pradip R. Navik, Director of Zeal Aqua Ltd., discussed the challenges faced by shrimp producers and emphasized the need for innovative solutions.
The conference also delved into the rising demand for fish and shrimp in the Delhi-NCR market. Local traders, hoteliers, and professionals shared insights into market trends in the region. Speakers included Sanket Poonia, Managing Partner of Dr. Attar Feed and Frozen Foods; Chef Sandeep Supkar, Director of Food and Beverage at Five Iron Golf, Greater Noida; Aman Anand, a trader from Chandigarh; and Chef Bhart Kemani, Owner of Nutmeg Catering and Executive Committee Member of the Indian Culinary Forum.
Dr. P.E. Cheran, a Senior Consultant in Shrimp Farming, provided an overview of the current scenario for shrimp farmers and production trends. Additionally, Dr. Akshaya Panigrahi and Dr. K.P.S. Kumaraguru Vasagam, Principal Scientists at ICAR-CIBA, presented a brief video highlighting the technological innovations and initiatives undertaken by CIBA in the shrimp farming sector.
Concluding the conference, Pravash Pradhan, Convener of Shrimp Retail 2024, stressed the importance of developing a B2B networking platform for the shrimp industry. He emphasized that the country’s young population, increasing consumption of animal protein, and rising per capita income present immense potential for the domestic shrimp market. He expressed optimism that the industry would achieve sustainable growth if the domestic market were fully developed.
