The Green Revolution in India, launched in the late 1960s, helped the country achieve self-sufficiency in food by the late 1980s. The growth of agricultural production surpassed all expectations, reaching a total food-grain output of 191.2 million t in 1996-97. While the population increased from 439 million in 1961 to 834 million in 1991, at a rate of 2.2% per year, food-grain production nearly kept pace with population growth. However, the struggle to sustain food security continues for a population that reached one billion in August 1999, and considering that an estimated 35% of Indians still fall below the poverty line (IFPRI, 1999). Other emerging concerns and developments are also beginning to have an impact on future prospects for agricultural growth. Yields of major food crops have either reached their ceilings or have started to decline. Ground- and surface-water sources for irrigation continue to dwindle. The traditional diet, heavy in food-grains, fails to meet basic nutritional requirements. Modern agriculture adversely affects the environment and human health, a concern for environmentalists, planners and the public alike. These emerging issues have led many people to believe that there is a need to redefine the Green Revolution's original goal of 'productivity growth' to include 'stability' and 'diversity' in food production. As limits of growth in traditional food sectors are quickly being reached, seeking ways to diversify food production warrants immediate national attention.
Aquaculture may be part of the solution to the increasing need for food diversity and arresting the decline in per caput nutrition. On a global scale, cultured fish production has doubled from 1990 to 1996, reaching 26 million t, and output could reach 39 million t by 2010 (The World Bank, 1999, p. 92). Indian aquaculture is no exception to such phenomenal growth in world food production. Rapid aquaculture production will undoubtedly cause serious damage to the environment. However, managed growth and sustainable production practices could place the industry in concert with the environment. This study explores the current status of and potentials for future growth in Indian aquaculture.
The study is based on the literature search of reports, studies and publications, organizing field case studies, analysis of secondary data and opinion of State Directorate Officials. A detailed questionnaire was prepared and mailed to all State Directorates of Fisheries soliciting information on the status of aquacultural production, consumption within the state and exports, major market centres and infrastructure available for the development of aquaculture. This information was analysed and presented in case studies.
In the rest of this chapter, we first present a brief discussion of various emerging trends in agriculture, and then explain how these trends point to a need to find alternative means of achieving agricultural growth, enhancing food security, meeting nutritional demand and alleviating poverty. Subsequently, we explain how commercial aquaculture has quickly gained national importance as one of the viable means of diversifying food production. In the final section, we present the main study goals and research approach. Readers who are familiar with current Indian food trends and prospects may jump to the last section of this chapter.
Case studies relating to production and consumption patterns in northeastern states, growth of aquaculture in Andhra Pradesh, and consumer preferences for aquaculture products in Karnataka are presented in Appendixes 1 to 3.
