, 26 July 2016 : Looking at immense scope for development of fisheries and aquaculture, India has restructured the Central Plan Scheme under an umbrella of Blue Revolution and has set a target of 15 million tonnes of fish production by 2019-20 fiscal year, Sudarshan Bhagat, Indian Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare informed the parliament recently.
During 2015-16 fiscal year, India recorded 10.79 million tonnes (provisional) of fish production.
The restructured Central Sector Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries (CSS) approved in December, 2015 by the Government provides for a focused development and management of the fisheries sector to increase both fish production and fish productivity from aquaculture and fisheries resources of the inland and marine fisheries sector including deep sea fishing, the minister adds.
The scheme has the following components:
(a) National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) and its activities,
(b) Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture,
(c) Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post-Harvest Operations,
(d) Strengthening of Database & Geographical Information System of the Fisheries Sector,
(e) Institutional Arrangement for Fisheries Sector,
(f) Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) and other need-based Interventions,
(g) National Scheme on Welfare of Fishermen
The objectives of the scheme are (i) to increase the overall fish production in a responsible and sustainable manner for economic prosperity, (ii) to modernize the fisheries sector with special focus on new technologies, (iii) to ensure food and nutritional security in the country, (iv) to generate employment and export earnings and (v) to ensure inclusive development and empower fishers and aquaculture farmers.
The restructured will augment the export earnings with a focus on increased benefit flow to the fishers and fish farmers to attain the target of doubling their income.
Besides, the Marine Products Export Development Agency (MPEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industries also implements various export promotion policies and schemes to enhance export earnings from the marine and brackish-water fish and aquaculture products.
Image Credit: NJK