Kendrapada: In Odisha, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has registered 62 seafood exporters and 45 export-oriented processing plants with a total processing capacity of 2318.12 metric tonnes per day (MTPA) and 50 cold storages with a capacity of 52,286 MT, said minister of state for commerce and industry, Jitin Prasada in Rajya Sabha on Friday. Replying to a question of Subhasish Khuntia, the minister stated that nine beneficiaries from Odisha were assisted with financial support of Rs 967.69 lakh during 2021-22 and 2025-26 for infrastructure development related to seafood value addition. Moreover, MPEDA has undertaken extensive capacity-building and skill-development programmes to strengthen value addition and hygiene practices. Odisha has a seafood park at Deras across 152 acres, where 15 exporters have obtained plots. At present, no proposals have been received from the Odisha govt for establishing new seafood-focused processing parks, added the minister.
