Odisha to Set Up State’s First Mud Crab Hatchery at Paradip

Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to aquaculture, Odisha is set to establish its first mud crab hatchery at Paradip with a production capacity of five lakh seed units. The project, with an investment of ₹2.81 crore, will be funded by the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department under the ECRICC–GCF programme.

The hatchery is expected to significantly reduce farmers’ dependence on the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture in Chennai, cutting costs and saving time. Officials said it will also enhance farmers’ income and encourage wider adoption of mud crab farming in coastal regions.

Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganeshram Singh Khuntia, after approving the signing of the agreement, said the hatchery would be a “transformative step” for Odisha’s aquaculture sector. “This centre will elevate the economic standing of farmers and position Odisha as a vibrant hub of mud crab seed production,” he added.

A tripartite agreement between the department’s ECRICC–GCF (financial support), the Odisha Fisheries Directorate, and the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (technical expertise) will be signed soon to implement the project.

The ECRICC project is already supporting several initiatives in coastal districts including Puri, Ganjam, Balasore, and Kendrapara. These include seagrass and salt marsh restoration with IIT Bhubaneswar’s support, scientific mud crab farming for high export potential, seaweed cultivation support for 70 farmers, SRI-based training for over 28,000 farmers, and empowerment of more than 300 women as climate champions.