Parshottam Rupala Visits Assam To Review Fisheries Development Programmes

Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Cabinet Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Government of India, recently paid a visit to Guwahati, Assam. The purpose of his visit was to review and strengthen the fisheries sector's development, among other works. Shri Bhubaneshwar Kalita MP gave him a warm welcome in Guwahati.

During his visit, Mr. Rupala emphasized the importance of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme and the multidimensional activities of the Blue Revolution. He particularly focused on increasing fisheries production and productivity, both inland and in Himalayan and cold-water regions. He also discussed associated activities such as infrastructure development, marketing, exports, and institutional arrangements.

The minister interacted with the officers and beneficiaries of the PMMSY and Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) and explained how these schemes could be implemented in all states and union territories, including Assam. Mr. Rupala highlighted the need to eliminate critical gaps in the fisheries value chain through the implementation of schemes such as PMMSY and KCC for beneficiaries, fish farmers, fishermen, and other stakeholders.

Overall, Mr. Rupala's visit aimed to review and strengthen the fisheries sector's development and associated activities in Guwahati and beyond.            

Parshottam Rupala, a government official, recently highlighted the remarkable accomplishments of the Department of Fisheries. For instance, they established a modern integrated fish landing center in Chunari Village, Goalpara district, which required a total investment of Rs. 19.91 crores, with the Central government contributing Rs. 17.92 crores.

They also set up a brood bank in government farms, constructed 76 freshwater finfish hatcheries, expanded the area under aquaculture by constructing ponds in an 1140-hectare area, and stocked fingerlings in a 2410-hectare area under wetlands. Additionally, the Department provided support for integrated fish farming in a 625-hectare area and established 187 units of ornamental fish rearing and breeding units.

The Department of Fisheries also approved 52 units of the Re-Circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) and 183 units of the Biofloc culture system. They installed 150 units of cages in reservoirs, expanded a 210-hectare area under pen culture in open water bodies, and provided 111 units of replacement boats and nets for traditional fishermen.

Furthermore, they established nine cold storages and 92 feed mills, and 1381 post-harvest transport vehicles (including refrigerated and insulated trucks, three-wheelers, and two-wheelers). They also set up 64 fish kiosks and developed one disease diagnostic and quality testing lab.

Lastly, the Department of Fisheries provided livelihood and nutritional support during the ban period to 21,000 fisher families. Overall, these accomplishments demonstrate the significant contributions of the Department of Fisheries toward the growth and development of the fisheries sector in India.

The Department of Fisheries has recently approved three Central sector projects initiated by the Government of Assam. These projects include 'Project Sampoorna,' an innovative initiative aimed at reducing malnutrition among children in the Bongaigaon district.

Additionally, the department has given the green light to the 'Digitisation of Assam Fishery Resources' project, which will employ geospatial technology to map and identify resources, ultimately leading to the development of the Assam Fisheries Resource Information System. The cumulative total cost of these projects is estimated to be Rs. 23.87 crores. This is a significant step forward in enhancing the fisheries sector of Assam, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the local communities.

The Ministry recently organized an interactive session wherein the beneficiaries of government schemes such as PMMSY and KCC, along with fish farmers, fishermen, and locals got an opportunity to interact with the Minister. Assam has made significant progress in fish production by introducing innovative changes and working towards achieving self-sufficiency in the field of fish production, consumption, and other fisheries-related activities. This interactive session proved to be beneficial for the fish farmers, fishermen, and other stakeholders as they were able to discuss their problems and receive extensive support to improve the development of their fisheries activities.

-PIB

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