Govt gives Rs 3.77 cr to seafood units

New Delhi, Aug 22 (UNI) The government today said it has provided a financial assistance of Rs 3.77 crore to seafood processing units this year to boost production.

Stating this in his inaugural address at the 3-day International Livestocks and Dairy Expo which opened here, Food Processing Industries Minister Subodh Kant Sahai said the government will provide Rs 628 crore for modernisation of abattoirs under public private partnership (PPP) scheme during the 11th-plan period.

He said consumption of meat and meat products is gradually increasing in the country, adding that poultry meat is the fastest growing animal protein. Its per capita consumption has grown from 870 grams in 2000 to about 1.68 kg in 2005, he said, adding this is expected to grow up to 2 kg in 2009.

Animal Husbndary Dairy and Fisheres Secretary Pradeep Kumar lamented that 30 per cent of 64 lakh tonnes of fish production in the country is wasted because of lack of required infrastructure.

However, the government is determined to achieve production target of 95 lakh tonnes by 2010, he added.

More than 100 exhibitors from India and over 70 from Thailand, China, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Australia, Germany, Holland, Vietnam, Korea, Philippines are participating in the expo.

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