In the heart of Gujarat’s coastal region, dried-up wastelands once seemed destined to remain barren. But thanks to Dr Manoj Sharma, these lands now teem with life, thriving with bustling shrimp farms that have transformed the landscape and the local economy.

Originally from Nanded, Maharashtra, Dr Manoj often found himself lost in the mesmerising world of aquatic life. As a child, he would spend hours observing the delicate movements of fish in glass jars. This childhood fascination would go on to define his life’s path.

But, like many of his peers growing up in the 1990s, Manoj was initially inspired to secure a career in either medicine or civil services. Despite a promising academic record, his dreams of attending medical school were thwarted by a narrow miss in the entrance examination.

Undeterred by this setback, he eventually found his true calling in the field of aquaculture. His growing interest led him to earn a Master’s in Aquaculture Management from the prestigious Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) in Mumbai.

In 1994, his life took a pivotal turn when Dr Manoj relocated to Olpad, Gujarat. It was here that he identified the untapped potential of shrimp farming in a state renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit but largely uncharted in the realm of aquaculture.

With the help of its Sarpanch Pradeep Navik and united by a shared vision for economic prosperity, Dr Manoj began experimenting with shrimp farming on the salt-enriched soils of Dandi. His initial attempts at

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