Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Welfare schemes – Fishermen communities
General Studies 3
Issues related to Fisheries Sector
In news:The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of fisheries sector in the country with an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores for its implementation during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories, as a part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package.
The investment of Rs. 20,050 crores under PMMSY is the highest ever in the fisheries sector.
Out of this, an investment of about Rs 12340 crores is proposed for beneficiary-oriented activities in Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture
About Rs 7710 crores investment is for Fisheries Infrastructure
‘Blue Revolution’ or `Neeli Kranti’ and has the potential to attain the first place in the world in fish production. It includes MoFPI’s schemes such as Food Parks, Food Safety and Infrastructure.
Objective of PMMSY
PMMSY aims at enhancing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne by 2024-25 –
Increasing fisheries export earnings to Rs.1,00,000 crore by 2024-25
Doubling of incomes of fishers and fish farmers
Reducing post-harvest losses from 20-25% to about 10%
Generation of additional 55 lakhs direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in fisheries sector and allied activities
What will PMMSY address?
PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernization and strengthening of value chain, traceability, establishing a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’ welfare.
While aiming to consolidate the achievements of Blue Revolution Scheme, PMMSY envisages many new interventions such as fishing vessel insurance, support for new/up-gradation of fishing vessels/boats, Bio-toilets, Aquaculture in saline/alkaline areas, Sagar Mitras, FFPOs/Cs, Nucleus Breeding Centres, Fisheries and Aquaculture start-ups, Incubators, Integrated Aqua parks, Integrated coastal fishing villages development, Aquatic Laboratories Network and Extension Services, Traceability, Certification and Accreditation, RAS, Biofloc & Cage Culture, E-Trading/Marketing, Fisheries Management Plans, etc.
The focus will be on:
Adopting ‘Cluster or Area based approaches’
Creation of Fisheries clusters through backward and forward linkages
Special focus will be given for employment generation activities such as seaweed and ornamental fish cultivation. It emphasizes on interventions for quality brood, seed and feed, special focus on species diversification, critical infrastructure, marketing networks etc.
Other Important Launches
A. Launch of e-Gopala App: e-Gopala App is a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers. It will be the first digital platform is available in the country for farmers managing livestock including
Buying and selling of disease free germplasm in all forms (semen, embryos, etc)
Availability of quality breeding services (Artificial Insemination, veterinary first aid, vaccination, treatment etc)
Guiding farmers for animal nutrition, treatment of animals using appropriate ayurvedic medicine/ethno veterinary medicine
Send alerts (on due date for vaccination, pregnancy diagnosis, calving etc)
Inform farmers about various government schemes and campaigns in the area.
B. Semen Station:
The state of the art facility has been established under Rashtriya Gokul Mission in Purnea, Bihar with an investment of Rs. 84.27 crores.
One of the largest semen stations in the government sector with a production capacity of 50 lakh semen doses per annum.
Will give a new dimension to development and conservation of indigenous breeds of Bihar and meet the demand of semen doses of eastern and north-eastern States.
C. In vitro fertilization (IVF) Laboratories:
Various IVF laboratories are being set up across the country through a 100% grant in aid.
These labs are crucial for propagating elite animals of indigenous breeds and thereby enhancing milk production and productivity manifold.
D. Use of Sex-sorted Semen in Artificial Insemination: Through this method,only female calves can be produced (with more than 90% accuracy) which will help double the growth rate of milk production in the country.
E. Demonstration of IVF Technology at Farmer’s Doorstep: It will propagate the technology for multiplication of high yielding animals at a faster rate through the use of technology, a female cattle can give birth to 20 calves in a year.
Did you know?
Constituting about 7.73% of the global fish production and export earnings of Rs.46,589 Crores (2018-19), India today has attained the status of the second largest aquaculture and 4th largest fish exporting nation in the world.
Fisheries constitute 1.24% of National GDP and 7.28% of Agriculture GDP.
The ‘fisheries and aquaculture sector’ is recognized as the sunshine sector in Indian agriculture.
Fishery is a State subject.
Connecting the Dots:
Examine the bottlenecks associated with the current Fisheries Sector in India. Also suggest ways to address them.
Fishing and fishermen communities are closely aligned with farming and are crucial to rural India. Examine.
