Kings Infra to bring 5,000 farmers under ecologically sustainable aquaculture

Ecologically sustainable aquaculture based on symbiotic technology is set to revolutionise the coastal aquaculture industry in the country. The aquaculture based on symbiotic technology is a guaranteed way for achieving our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for doubling the aqua farmers' income, said Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University (TNJFU) Vice-Chancellor Dr. G Sugumar. He was speaking after inaugurating the project on standardized pond-based culture technique for commercially important marine finfishes and pond-based RAS for vannamei shrimp at Chippikulam near Thoothukudi. Dr. Sugumar said the initiative launched by Kings Infra in association with the University to promote the project would help the aquaculture farming practice to be truly sustainable in the country. The recirculated aquaculture system (RAS) empowers farmers to utilize water to the maximum sustainable levels by eliminating possible wastages by converting the same to another resource.

The project promoted by Kings Infra Ventures Ltd, a technology-driven sustainable aquaculture company along with TNJFU aims to integrate seaweed culture, oyster farming, and various fish varieties facilitating consumption of the leftover feeds and biological waste of the shrimp farms to create additional resources and eliminate wastes completely in shrimp farms. The method would greatly reduce the risk of diseases and improve the profitability of coastal aquaculture. The project proposes to train farmers in these pond-based sustainable aquaculture practices. The small and marginal farmers would be the main beneficiaries of the venture as the project would provide them with onfarm training in technology. According to the joint venture, the TNJFU would provide the research and analysis while Kings Infra takes care of the infrastructure and funding needs to demonstrate the technology.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony Mr. Shaji Baby John Chairman and Managing Director of Kings Infra, said the company aims at training over 5,000 farmers in the coastal region by utilizing the technology being developed under this joint collaborative project. Stressing the importance of doubling farmers' income for the growth of the economy he said the ecologically sustainable aquaculture provides the best possibility for the coastal farmers to realize the dream of augmenting their income.

The joint venture would develop a standard technology on developing the framework for sustainable aquaculture technology in a step-by-step manner incorporating the necessary scientific inputs and technical requirements. "The inauguration of the project is another milestone in the process", he said. The next stage would be creating a knowledge-sharing platform for extending the developed technology to the farming community and also to provide on-farm training, he added.

The Kochi-based Kings Infra has been advocating the need for an environmentally sustainable aquaculture for the past many years as part of its commitment to enhancing productivity and farmers' income. Sustainable aquaculture has tremendous scope for growth as 49 percent of global demand for human consumption of fish is contributed by aquaculture. Aquaculture shrimp contributed 74 percent value of the Indian seafood exports worth Rs 43,717 cr exports in FY 2021.

During the inaugural ceremony Dr. NV Sujathkumar, Dean, Tuticorin Fisheries College and Research Institute remembered Late Sri Baby John, Founder of Kings Infra and a Revolutionary leader from the fishermen community who played a very key role in uplifting the fishermen during seven decades of his public life. Sri Shaji Baby John is the elder son of Sri Baby John.

Dr. KS Vijay Amirtharaj, Assistant Professor and Head Mariculture Research Farm Facility, Department of Aquaculture, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi, Ms. Rose Malar, President, Chippikulam Panchayat, Sri Lalbert Cherian CFO, Kings Infra, Sri Radhakrishnan,General Manager, Dr Selvakumar, Chief Technical Officer, Aquaculture Division, Kings Infra, Representatives of Farmers and Fishermen organizations, and many others associated with the aquaculture industry participated in the inaugural function held at the Kings Infra Aquafarm premises.

Shares of Kings Infra Ventures Limited was last trading in BSE at Rs. 34.75 as compared to the previous close of Rs. 34.3. The total number of shares traded during the day was 43744 in over 195 trades.

The stock hit an intraday high of Rs. 36 and intraday low of 33. The net turnover during the day was Rs. 1495175.

Source : Equity Bulls

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