March 21, 2002

'27'

COST EFFECTIVE DETECTION KIT FOR SHRIMP DISEASE LAUNCHED

    The Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Ajit singh launched a state-of-the-art and cost effective diagnostic kit for detecting White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) disease in shrimps, here today. Developed by the scientists duo, Dr. K.K. Vijayan and Dr. T.C. Santiago of the Central Institute of Brackish Water Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai, the kit is likely to bring down the cost of detecting WSSV from Rs.1200 to about Rs.500 per sample. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ajit Singh said that the detection kit will go a long way in identifying the spot disease in shrimps and help loss of a few thousand crores due to the disease. He said the country has a good potential for export of fish and suggested that farmers around Delhi NCR should be encouraged to go for aquaculture. He said that the farmers should combine production of crops with aquaculture and dairy to get a good return.

    Since 1993 the Asian Shrimp Farming Sector has been affected by a viral disease popularly knows as WSSV resulting in high mortality and economic losses. The disease has diminished economic profitability and prospects of shrimp farming in India. Though, there is no known treatment for the disease, early diagnosis for detection and avoidance and health management practices are the only alternative in tackling this menace. Conventional diagnostic tools are time consuming and less sensitive and failed to detect early infection, therefore, there was a long felt need for a new generation DNA-based molecular diagnostic tool like the one developed by the two scientists.

    A MoU to transfer the know-how of this kit developed by CIBA to Genei, a Bangalore based firm was also signed today for commercial production.