The Controller Normal of Patent, Design, and Emblems has awarded patent to Mpeda-mud RGCA’s crab hatchery technology, which is the only one of its kind in the country. The patent, which is a significant milestone in India’s aquaculture business, was awarded in 2011 and may be valid until 2030.
Hatchery developed by The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture
The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture, the research and growth arm of the Marine Merchandise Export Growth Authority, developed the hatchery know-how for mud crab (scientific title – Scylla serrata), which is in high demand in South-East Asian nations where live crabs are extremely popular as a delicacy.
First time Government has given patent for this technology
Chairman of Mpeda (Marine Merchandise Export Growth Authority), KS Srinivas stated that the achievement is unprecedented in Indian aquaculture history, because it is the first time, the Indian government has given a patent for this technology. “It will go a long way toward meeting the seed requirements of farmers who want to diversify their aquaculture species rather than only focusing on shrimp farming,” he said.
Given the lack of other mud crab hatcheries in India, RGCA applied for patent rights for the mud crab hatchery know-how with the Controller Normal of Patent, Design, and TradeMarks in 2011.
High Demand of crab in Southeast Asia
In response to the high demand for mud crab, notably in Southeast Asian countries, Mpeda began a pilot project to produce mud crab seed (also known as crab-instar) in 2004 and then opened the first industrial hatchery in India in 2013, with a production capacity of 1 million per year. The RGCA’s mud crab hatchery’s seed manufacturing capacity has been increased to 1.4 million per year due to increased demand.
Srinivas stated that the most significant success was increasing the survival rate of crab instars from 3% to 7% on a global scale. Furthermore, the hatchery unit is constructed such that all of the parts are housed under one roof with full bio-security. In all, 7.28 million seeds have been grown and distributed to 659 farmers around the country.
Species boost given by RCGA
Sea bass, mud crab, Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT), cobia, pompano, and artemia are among the diverse aquaculture species that have been given a boost by the RGCA. Its primary goal is to increase India’s marine goods exports by manufacturing and selling high-quality seeds, which are an important aquaculture input.
