Lok Sabha Question No. 4321 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-28
Subject: Setting up of Cold Storage and Fish Processing Units
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SRINIVAS KESINENI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING AND FISHERIES

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4321

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2017

## SETTING UP OF COLD STORAGE AND FISH PROCESSING UNITS

## 4321.   SHRI KESINENI  NANI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the various steps taken by the Government to encourage fisheries in the coastal regions of the country including Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) whether  there  is  any  scheme  with  the  Government  that  supports  setting  up  of  cold storage and fish processing units, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any incentives are given by the Government to fishermen for purchase of boats, engines etc., if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the total fish production in Andhra Pradesh along with the steps taken by the  Government  to  ensure  that  sustainable  fishing  practices  are  followed  by  fishermen throughout the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a) The  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry,  Dairying  and  Fisheries  (DADF),  Ministry  of Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  has  been  implementing  a Central  Plan  Scheme  'Blue Revolution:  Integrated  Development  and  Management  of  Fisheries'  to  encourage  fisheries development in various States/Union Territories including Andhra Pradesh.  The steps taken for encouraging fisheries development include (i) providing  of financial assistance under the plan scheme, (ii) intensification of aquaculture practices, (iii) introduction of diversified fish species, (iv) utilization of open water bodies for cage culture and pen culture, (v) establishment of fish hatcheries and brood banks, (vi) promotion of mariculture, (vii) promotion of capture fisheries both  the  marine  and  inland  sectors,  and  (viii)  development  of  post  harvest  infrastructure  and cold chain.
- (b) Yes, Madam. The DADF under the central plan scheme provides financial assistance for setting  up  ice  plants,  cold  storages  &  ice  plants-cum-cold  storages.  Besides,  central  financial assistance  is  also  provided  for  integrated  cold  chain  development  covering,  pre-processing, processing of fish, fish transportation,  retail outlets, moveable fish markets and kiosks.
- (c) Yes, Madam.  The DADF under the central plan scheme provides financial assistance for (i)  procurement  of  Fibre  Reinforced  Plastic  (FRP)  boats  upto  10m  size  including  nets  as  a replacement  of  the  existing  traditional  boats  and  (ii)  Motorization  of  Traditional  Craft  up  to 10HP engine. The central financial assistance for procurement of FRP boats and motorization of traditional craft is restricted respectively to (i)  50% of the unit cost with a ceiling of Rs.2.00 lakh per boat for General States and 100% of the unit cost with a ceiling of Rs.4.00 lakh per boat for UTs and (ii)  50% of the unit cost with a ceiling of Rs. 60,000/- per engine in General States and 100% with a ceiling of Rs.1.20 lakh per engine for UTs.  During the financial year 2016-17 the DADF  has  provided  Rs.336.65  lakh  for  procurement  of  159  numbers  of  FRP  boats  and Rs.573.40 lakh for motorization of 964 numbers of traditional boats.

- (d) The  year-wise  total  fish  production  in  Andhra  Pradesh  during  the  past  three  years including the current year as reported by the State Government are as below :

|   Sl No. | Year                      |   Fish production (Fish and prawn ) in lakhs tonne |
|----------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | 2013-14                   |                                              17.68 |
|        2 | 2014-15                   |                                              19.78 |
|        3 | 2015-16                   |                                              23.52 |
|        4 | 2016-17 (up to 28-2-2017) |                                              25.09 |

The  major  steps  taken  by  the  DADF  to  ensure  sustainable  fishing  practices  in  the  country include the followings:

- (i) to  provide  financial  assistance  under  the  CSS  to  the  States/UTs  for  conducting awareness programmes  on  conservation &  management  of  fisheries,  community outreach programmes on sustainable fishery practices including implementing Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,
- (ii) Imposition  of  uniform  ban  on  fishing  by  all  fishing  vessels  in  the  Indian  Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) beyond territorial waters during the period  from 15 th April  to 14 th June  on the East Coast and 1 st June to 31 st July  on West Coast every year.
- (iii) Conservation  and  effective  management  of  fishery  resources  in  the  EEZ  through  a 'Comprehensive Marine Fishing Policy' in November, 2004.

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