Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry today launched a slew of e-Governance initiatives under the Digital India Programme.
The initiatives have been developed by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
Two of these programmes, namely, Shrimp Price Information over SMS by a missed call, and mKRISHI – Mobile App for aquaculture operations will provide digitally-enabled services on demand to the aqua farmers in the country.
Other e-Governance initiatives aims at providing single window solution to exporters and other stakeholders through two new websites, namely Online MPEDA Registration portal for Exporters, and MPEDA Portal – www.mpeda.gov.in.
Details regarding the e-Governance initiatives:
(1) Shrimp price Information over SMS by a missed call
India mainly produces L.Vannamei (LV) and Black Tiger (BT) shrimp in aqua farms in all maritime states. In 2014-15 about 3.53 lakh tonnes of Vannamei shrimp and 71,400 MT of BT shrimp was produced. MPEDA is providing price related market information of Vannamei shrimp and BT shrimp to farmers over SMS on a missed call to a predetermined number. On receipt of the missed call, information on price of Vannamei shrimp and BT shrimp for different grades in major markets like Japan, USA and EU are provided by SMS.
Farmers can dial +918590100800 for getting price information on Vannamei shrimp and call +918590200800 for getting price information on BT shrimp. The price information to farmers will provide them the current market trends enabling them to make an informed decision on harvest of their produce.
(2 ) mKRISHI – Mobile App for Aquaculture Operations
This is pilot project presently operated in Gujarat and will be extended all over India in 3 months. Aquaculture of shrimp is a complex set of activities wherein huge amount of data is to be captured, analyzed and decisions are to be taken on a dynamic basis. Currently, farmers are keeping the records in manual form on a sheet of paper which may not provide them with on growth and trend of the aquaculture operations.
This app will provide an easy tool for book keeping, advisory services and weather informations. It is an Android mobile application which has been developed by MPEDA and TCS Innovation Lab, Mumbai (as part of its CSR initiative).
(3) Online MPEDA Registration portal for Exporters
Registration of an exporter with MPEDA is a mandatory requirement under MPEDA Act, 1972. Presently the registration process is being done manually. The exporters are required to submit a physical application in the prescribed format along with certain mandatory documents.