Odisha Advances Climate Resilience with Sustainable Crab Aquaculture

Bhubaneswar: The State Project Management Unit of the Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC) project organized a Crab Farmers’ and Exporters’ Meet today at the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) Campus, Bhubaneswar. The event, aimed at promoting sustainable aquaculture and strengthening market linkages, brought together crab farmers, exporters, government officials, and technical experts.

Inaugurating the event, Prem Kumar Jha, IFS, Director of Environment-cum-Special Secretary to Government and State Project Director of the ECRICC Project in Odisha, highlighted the importance of mud crab aquaculture in bolstering Odisha’s fisheries sector. He noted that this initiative is a vital step toward providing sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities while addressing climate resilience. Discussions during the meet delved into the project’s progress, challenges in crab export, and the critical role of various stakeholders in ensuring its success.

Dr. Archiman Lahiri, Deputy Director of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), emphasized the rising global demand for premium mud crabs and Odisha’s potential to position itself as a key exporter. He underlined the importance of quality assurance and meeting international standards to unlock lucrative market opportunities.

The ECRICC project, supported by the Green Climate Fund, focuses on climate-adaptive livelihoods to enhance the resilience of coastal communities in Odisha, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. In Odisha, the initiative is being implemented across seven landscapes in the districts of Puri, Ganjam, Kendrapara, and Balasore. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and with technical guidance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project aims to address the vulnerabilities of coastal populations to climate change impacts.

Looking ahead to 2025, the project plans to scale up sustainable crab aquaculture practices by identifying more farmers and establishing a dedicated crab hatchery in Odisha to ensure a steady seed supply. Key strategies, including capacity building for farmers, improving access to international markets, and streamlining quality checks and export documentation, were discussed with exporters during the event.

Officials from MPEDA, the Fisheries and Animal Resource Development Department (F&ARD) of Odisha, and exporters from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu participated in the workshop. Dr. Spandita Kar, State Project Manager of ECRICC, and her team coordinated the event, ensuring its success.