M/s. Aqgromalin Farmtech Service Pvt. Ltd., a farm diversification corporate business enterprise based in Chennai signed a MoU with ICAR-CIBA on February 7, 2022 for a startup program in mud crab seed production and scaling up of mud crab farming with a supply chain. The MoU was signed by Dr. K.P. Jithendran, Director, ICAR-CIBA and Mr. Prasanna Manoharan, CEO, M/s. Aqgromalin. Dr. Jithendran expressed that mud crab farming is an economically viable production system and a potential species for diversification. However, stockable size crab seed production is the critical gap, therefore, there is an urgent need for the transfer of mud crab nursery seed production technology to farmers. Dr. C.P. Balasubramanian, Principal Scientist and team leader expressed his happiness for collaboration with Aqgromalin and briefed the significance of MoU and outlined the road map of this technical collaboration. He explained the practical issues in popularizing mud crab aquaculture. He further, emphasized that hatchery seed production alone does not meet the requirement for the development of mud crab aquaculture, and stressed the need for the production of stockable ‘seed crab’. Mr. Prasanna Manoharan, CEO highlighted the brief history and significance of the company that serve as farm diversification platform. Mr. Bharani, COO explained their plans of operation of the startup program. Dr. P.K. Patil, Principal Scientist and Scientist in Charge ITMU explained the genesis of technical collaboration between ICAR-CIBA and Aqgromalin, and uniqueness of this program. Dr. T. Ravisankar thanked the Director, SICs and other team members joined on this occasion.
