In order to review and strengthen the fisheries sector development in the region, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (FAHD), Government of India, Parshottam Rupala, visited Guwahati, Assam.
Moving forward, Rupala spoke on the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme and other multidimensional activities of Blue Revolution with a significant focus on increasing fisheries production and productivity (inland, Himalayan and cold water) and its associated activities, including infrastructure development, marketing, exports, and institutional arrangements. The minister interacted with the officers and beneficiaries of PMMSY and Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs). Further, he highlighted about the implementation of PMMSY scheme in all the states and union territories including Assam. He spoke in detail about eliminating the critical gaps in the value chain of fisheries through the implementation of schemes such as PMMSY and KCC for beneficiaries, fish farmers, fishermen and other stakeholders.
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Parshottam Rupala highlighted the achievements of the Department of Fisheries such as establishment of a Modern Integrated Fish Landing Centre in Chunari Village, Goalpara district, at a total investment of Rs.19.91 crore and Central share of Rs.17.92 crore; establishment of one Brood bank in government farms; construction of 76 new freshwater finfish hatcheries; expansion of area under aquaculture by construction of ponds in 1140-hectare area; stocking of fingerlings in 2410-hectare area under wetlands; support for integrated fish farming provided for 625-hectare area; establishment of 187 units of ornamental fish rearing and breeding units; 52 units of Re-Circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) and 183 units of Biofloc culture system approved; installation of 150 units of cages in reservoirs; expansion of 210-hectare area under Pen culture in open water bodies; 111 units of replacement boats and nets for traditional fishermen; establishment of nine cold storages and 92 feed mills; 1381 numbers of post-harvest transport vehicles (refrigerated and insulated trucks, three wheelers and two wheelers); setting up of 64 fish kiosks; development of one disease diagnostic and quality testing lab; livelihood and nutritional ban period support provided to 21,000 fisher families.
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Besides, the Department of Fisheries has also approved three Central sector projects from Government of Assam on ‘Project Sampoorna: An innovative project for the reduction of malnutrition among children of Bongaigaon District’ and “digitisation of Assam Fishery Resources-Application of geospatial technology for mapping and identification and Development of Assam Fisheries Resource Information System” at a cumulative total cost of Rs.23.87 crores.
“Beneficiaries of government schemes such as PMMSY and KCC, fish farmers, fishermen and locals interacted with the minister. Assam is already a progressive state in fish production by bringing revolutionary changes and moving fast towards self-sufficiency in matters of fish production and consumption and other activities of fisheries. This interactive session will help fish farmers, fishermen and other stakeholders to a great extent to resolve their problems, provide extensive support and work to improve the development of their fisheries activities,” the ministry informed.
