Rajkot: Gujarat’s small fish exporting unit finally saw a silver layer in the dark times that had swallowed the industry after China bears a detrimental seat to take Indian fish.
Hope it is now shining on the surrounding fisheries industry that enjoys exports to around RS 5,000 Crore per year in the pre-covid era, after the Institute of Technology Fisheries (CIFT) decided to help these units conduct their microbiological tests in their catches in the laboratory.
Laboratory increases will not only improve export quality, but also reduce rejection by importing countries and industrial players will be able to export to European countries without hesitation.
Fish processing center in the state, the city of Veraval, has almost 100 units where fish from all states are brought to be processed and exported.
There are several units in Porbandar and South Gujarat too.
According to export rules, this processing unit requires in-house laboratories for microbiological tests to detect microorganisms in food products.
Exporters are needed to make batches and test raw materials and processed fish.
The cleanliness standards of importer countries are very strict and according to fish exporter, if they find the existence of microbes in fish, all containers face rejection.
More rejection will produce stained state export images.
According to sources in the industry, South Indian exports are considered better than Gujarat in many countries in terms of quality.
Director of CIFT, Ravishankar C N on Saturday signed a MoU with four Veraval-based units and one Portherar-based unit in Veraval to improve exporters.
Ashish Kumar Jha, Scientists at CIFT Veraval said, “This is the first phase and we will sign the MoU with all units that require an increase.
We will help them improve their standards, which will be able to meet international requirements.
We will give them a standard layout such as Chemicals needed for testing, environmental control for the level of temperature and humidity and other equipment needed.
Our scientists personally will visit their units and will provide lab staff of these units with training.
“The container’s refusal also cost high costs to exporter , Trading experts claims that cost around $ 25,000 for each rejection.
Secretary of the Gujarat Seafood Exporter Association, Naresh Varik said that exporter only hopes their container to Europe clears the test to enter.
“Increasing our laboratory will give us the security.
If we detect any microbes in raw fish, we will not process further and will not export it too.
Thus, it will save our efforts and costs.
Quality improvement will produce more requests from other countries than China.
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