Bhubaneswar: Odisha has received nearly Rs.100 Crore for development of inland fisheries and aquaculture under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
While Coastal States are the major beneficiaries, Odisha, being one of the coastal states has received Rs.99.63 Crore from Center under PMMSY.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme namely “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)” with highest ever estimated investment of Rs.20,050 crore in fisheries sector for a period of 5 years with effect from the financial year 2020-21 including inland fisheries and aquaculture.
Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Parshottam Rupala said in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply on 10 December.
In the meantime, the Department of Fisheries in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying during the last financial year 2020-21 and current year 2021-22 accorded approval to the proposals of the Government of Odisha at a total cost of Rs. 440.56 crore under PMMSY for development of fisheries and aquaculture sector in the State.
The scheme intends to address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernization and strengthening of value chain and traceability in inland fisheries and aquaculture sector.
PMMSY inter-alia includes range of activities such as reservoir cage culture, river ranching, fish seed stocking in natural water bodies and providing livelihood and nutritional support for fishers’ families including inland fishermen during fishing ban/lean period for conservation of fisheries resources
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing various schemes/programs for development of fisheries including inland fisheries and aquaculture.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries implemented from 2015-16 to 2019-20 for development of fisheries in the country.
The CSS inter-alia, extended financial assistance for creation of fisheries infrastructure including inland fisheries and aquaculture such as installation of cages in reservoirs, construction of ponds for brackish water and freshwater aquaculture, establishment of fish brood banks, hatcheries, fish feed mills, development of post-harvest infrastructure like Ice plants, Cold Storages, Ice plants- cum-cold storages and development of Fish Landing Centre in Reservoirs.
A dedicated fund namely, ‘Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund’ (FIDF) with a total fund size of Rs.7,522.48 crore has been created for providing concessional finance for creation and strengthening of fisheries infrastructure facilities including in the field of inland fisheries and aquaculture.
Extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers and fish farmers to help them to meet their working capital needs for fisheries and aquaculture.