The fisheries sector has a vast domestic market to capture in India. PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana) was launched by Govt. of India last year, is now benefitting the fishers of India at large. A lot of sub-schemes are covered under PMMSY’s vast umbrella which is directly or indirectly benefitting the fishers. These schemes are aligned to double the exports, double the production of fish and hence doubling the fishers’ income, Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said while addressing ASSOCHAM’s virtual conference on fisheries and aquaculture.
He further added that in the coming time not only the sector would experience an upthrust but also would generate employment for more than 50 lakh people across the nation. Towards the end, the minister assured all possible support from the Government of India to the fishers of the nation in uplifting and reviving the sector. This discussion was held with the theme “Strategic roadmap towards enabling Blue Revolution & Economic Growth”.
Speaking on the occasion, Chintan Thaker, Chairman, ASSOCHAM Gujarat Council assured the timely cooperation and support of the industry body in coming up for the revival of the sector.
“The Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) is also helping to revive the sector by taking various timely measures. It is the prime concern of MPEDA to provide unique solutions to the problems faced by the marine industry, ensuring smooth and proper operation of the sector along with maintaining quality and implemented various programmes to meet the required concerns regarding food safety,” said Chairman, MPEDA, KS Srinivas.
Giving more technical insight about the PMMSY and other fisheries-related schemes, Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Govt of India, said, “The scheme was started in May 2020 with an array of 100 diverse activities. With a budget of Rs. 20,050 crore, it is by far the largest investment in the fisheries sector. The strategy along with the concerted and collaborative efforts between the stakeholders and government is required to achieve ambitious targets under the scheme. These targets are Rs. 100,000 crore fisheries export, additional 70 lakh tonnes fish production, and generation of 55 lakh employment in the years to come.
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The other speakers present in the session were from different parts of India, involved in the occupation of fisheries and aquaculture. They discussed and bring out all the possible ways to cope up with the current situation faced by the fisheries and aquaculture industry inside the nation. The other eminent speakers of the session, representing the interest of industry bodies were Dr Manoj M Sharma, Director, Mayank Aquaculture; Amit Salunkhe, Chief Alliance Officer, Aqua Connect and Dhaval Raval, Chairman – Agriculture & Food Processing Committee, ASSOCHAM Gujarat Council along with Dr. Venkatesh Iyer, Editor in Chief, The SME India as a moderator for the session.
Further, the session was supported by NABARD, Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission and Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat.
The session was be attended by major industry bodies of fisheries and aquaculture industry, leading industrialists, exporters, educationists, bureaucrats, FPOs, and other industry professionals from across the country.
