1. What is the significance of fisheries for India’s coastal economy? What further potential does commercial fishing hold as part of food processing and related commerce? Discuss. (10 Marks)
Candidates need to write about fisheries sector of India. And then highlight the significance of the sector. Also Write about the potential of fisheries sector in India with respect to food processing industry and it’s commerce and trade.
Introduction
Fisheries are the primary source of livelihood for several communities. India is the world’s second-largest fish producer. Fisheries are the country’s single-largest agriculture export, with a growth rate of 6 to 10 per cent in the past five years.
Body
Significance:
Its significance is underscored by the fact that the growth rate of the farm sector in the same period is around 2.5 per cent.
Fish constituted about 10% of total exports from India and almost 20% of agriculture exports in 2017-18.
According to the CMFRI Census 2010, the total marine fisherfolk population was about 4 million comprising in 864,550 families. Nearly 61% of the fishermen families were under BPL category.
The sector has immense potential to more than double the commerce and trade as envisioned by the government:
The geographic, base of Indian marine fisheries has 8118 km coastline, 2.02 million sq of Exclusive Economic Zone including 0.5 million sq km of the continental shelf, and 3937 fishing villages.
India having a tropical climate cannot preserve the fish in open for longtime there is requirement capex for heavy refrigerator and deep freezing machine and to prosper the food processing industry.
The investment of Rs 3,000 crore in the Blue Revolution is being supplemented through the Rs 7,523-crore Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund. This will meet the capital investment requirement of this sector.
The government has invested in hatcheries to meet the ever-increasing demand for good quality fish seed it will boost commercial fishing.
India is processing less than 10% of its agricultural output, thus, presenting immense opportunities for increasing fish processing levels and leading to investments.
With an increase in urban working culture and fast-paced lifestyles, there is limited time available for cooking raw fish for meal preparation therefore processed with use of online application will boost the sector for example Licious fish.
Conclusion
India’s long coastline has the potential of becoming the strength of the economy particularly through the exploitation of the Blue Revolution. Focuses on creating an enabling environment for integrated and holistic development and management of fisheries for the socio-economic development of the fishers and fish farmers is needed.
