SHAPHARI: CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS
MPEDA (Marine Products Exports Development Authority) – has come up with a certification scheme known as “Shaphari” to certify farms and hatcheries that feature superior aquaculture practices.
Shaphari is a Sanskrit word that means superior quality fishery products fit for human consumption.
The Shaphari scheme is based on technical guidelines on aquaculture certification provided by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. The scheme will feature two components:
o Certifying hatcheries for their seed quality
o Approving shrimp farms that carry out good aquaculture practices.
Benefit for farmers
o The certification scheme will help farmers identify good hatcheries that can offer high seed quality.
o Shrimps farms that clear multiple operation audits successfully will be awarded the certificate for a duration of two years.