By Office of Communications and Public Affairs
13 February 2026 – A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Square Fons Exports Pvt. Ltd. (SF), Calcutta, India, on 12 February 2026 to establish a private mud crab hatchery, nursery, and grow-out farm in the Sundarbans area of West Bengal, with technical support from AIT. The partnership’s overall goal is to promote sustainable aquaculture development in West Bengal, India.
Under the agreement, an AIT-supported model farm will be established in the Sundarbans, together with freezing and processing facilities. The project aims to support large-scale production of high-quality soft-shelled mud crabs and facilitate access to domestic and international markets.
The MoA was signed by Prof. Anil K. Anal, Dean of the Faculty of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) at AIT, and Mr. Sumit Pradhan, CEO of SF. Prof. Anil emphasized the importance of building the partnership gradually, integrating both public and private sector actors, and exploring future collaborations, including potential joint proposals with international organizations. He also expressed hope for a long-term partnership between AIT and SF.
Mr. Sumit described the agreement as the beginning of deeper collaboration between the two institutions, noting SF’s interest in developing a strong partnership with AIT as the project evolves.
The project will be implemented on SF-owned land in West Bengal, with AIT providing technical support, staff training, and guidance on handling, processing, storage, and transportation systems to meet international standards. AIT will also conduct supervision and monitoring during the first farming cycle. SF will finance the project and provide the required land and resources, while AIT will contribute proven technologies and consultancy support to ensure sustainable operations.
The signing was also attended by Dr Ram C. Bhujel, Director of Aqua-Centre and Research Associate Professor at FANR; Dr Sumana Shrestha, Director, Office of International Affairs (OIA) and Ms Sarina Pradhan Thapa, Senior Program Officer, FANR.
About Square Fons Exports Pvt. Ltd. (SF)
SF is a private limited company in India focused on developing a mud crab aquaculture enterprise across the value chain. The company is establishing a mud crab hatchery, nursery, and grow-out operations for soft-shelled crabs targeting domestic and international markets, with the aim of advancing modern, eco-friendly crab aquaculture in West Bengal through collaboration with leading technical partners.
