Question : EXPORTS OF MARINE PRODUCTS

MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI MURASOLI MARAN)

(a) The exports of marine products from India during the year 1998-99, and April-January, 1999-2000 as compared to the similar period of the year 1998-99 are been as follows:

Year	Quantity in	Value in Rs.	Value in US $	MT	Cores	Million
1998-99	302934	4626.87	1106.91	1998-99	245549	3945.56	945.95	(April-	Jan.)	1999-2000	266681	4046.74	941.76	(April-	Jan.)

(b)& (c) Yes, Sir. There has been a marginal decline in exports of marine products in $ Value terms during the period April-January, 1999-2000 as compared to the same period of the year 1998-99. This has been basically due to lower value realisation from exports of shrimps in the Japanese market during the initial period of the current year on account of sluggish market conditions prevailing in that market.

(d) Some of the steps taken by the Government of India through the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) for boosting the exports of marine products from India inter-alia include implementation of schemes for procurement of equipment used by the processing industry, development of new farms, authorising MPEDA to conduct a market research in respect of US Market, conducting demonstration programmes for propagating eco-friendly aquaculture, thrust upon diversified aquaculture, undertaking market surveys, approving a project for identifying the problems aimed at disease containment, setting up a Special Task Force for looking into financial needs of the industry and stressing upon the necessity of promoting exports of value-added products from India.