KOCHI: It was started off as an ambitious project to export ornamental fish two years ago, but the Kerala Aqua Ventures International Ltd (Kavil) has landed in troubled waters. The total value of exports till February, 2012 is just $37,398.15 (around `23.80 lakh) whereas the target at the time of inception was around `3 crore per month.Kavil was floated as a public/private venture under the Department of Fisheries by the state government to ensure a remarkable share of the global trade in ornamental fish export by 2015. The project was launched when an export hub park was set up at Kadungalloor, near Aluva, with six hubs. Five hubs were acquired by private parties who invested `25 lakh each while one was allotted to Matsyafed.The hub owners, who are responsible for exports, were promised uninterrupted supply of ornamental fish from satellite farms across the state. Hub owners allege that no production was taking place at satellite and homesteads farms, consequently affecting exports. “The failure in the business has even prompted two hub owners to abandon the business,’’ said C S George, a retired Central Government employee, whose son owns a hub. As per information available under the Right to Information Act, a total of `11.91 cr has been provided by various agencies, including the National Fisheries Development Board, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Canara Bank and the Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium by way of grant and loan. The hubs were inaugurated on January 23, 2010 and exports started in March.
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