Lok Sabha Question No. 2144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Expansion of Aquaculture
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar, Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2144

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  MARCH, 2023

## Expansion of Aquaculture

## 2144.  SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR: SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

Will  the  Minister  of FISHERIES,  ANIMAL  HUSBANDRY  AND  DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)   the details of efforts being made  by the Government to carry out technical organizational  restructuring  in  the  field  of  fisheries  and  to  expand  aquaculture  to fishermen in the country;
- (b) whether fishermen are unable to expand their profession due to lack of knowledge and if so, the details of the measures taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c)      the  extent  to  which  the  freshwater  fish  farming  may  be  beneficial  in  the  fisheries production; and
- (d)    the details of the mechanism through which technical knowledge is being/may be made available to the fishermen of Maharashtra to increase the production?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) :  Technical  organizations  involved  in  fisheries  and  aquaculture  and  the  state  fisheries directorates, 8 Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions, 4 institutions under  Department  of  Fisheries  and  Marine  Product  Export  Development  Authority (MPEDA) and its  affiliates  namely  Rajiv  Gandhi  Centre  for  Aquaculture  (RGCA)  and Network  for  Fish  Quality  Management  and  Sustainable  Fishing  (NETFISH).  These organizations conduct necessary training and awareness programmes and render necessary guidance to fishers and fish farmers. Steps are being taken to coordinate the efforts of all these institutions to make extension effective though various coordination committees. To expand aquaculture, the Department under the ongoing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana  (PMMSY)  has  taken  steps  to  intensify  and  diversify  inland  fisheries  and aquaculture with focus on diversification of species, introduction of new species and peg

the critical gaps in the demand and supply of quality brood and seed of cultivable species and species-specific feeds, adequate number of brood banks, hatcheries, seed rearing units, specific pathogen free or resistant seed, genetically improved brood stock, and feed mills. As  a  result,  Inland  fisheries  and  aquaculture  has  contributed  74.59%  of  the  total  fish production of India during 2021-22. Fishers are being encouraged to take up aquaculture through fish rearing in public ponds, in reservoir through stocking and cage culture and in estuaries and coastal water through marine cages, RAS and biofloc, pen culture etc.

- (b) To  increase  knowledge  of  fishers  and  fish  farmers,  extensive  training  programmes  are being carried out by these institutions under funding from PMMSY and also through their own  resources.  Under  PMMSY,  916  training  and  awareness  programmes  have  been organized  so  far  and  may  more  will  be  organized  in  next  2  years  both  in  physical  and virtual  mode.  Training  in  given  both  for  aquaculture,  fishing  technology  and  on  post harvest technology. In addition, app like MatsyaSetu have been developed to enable self learning by fishermen.
- (c) Growth of marine capture fisheries is rather limited and therefore fish production can be increased  mostly  through  fresh  water  and  brackish  water  fish  farming.    Country  is endowed with beautiful water resources in form of river, lakes, wetlands and reservoirs. In addition ponds can be created anywhere. RAS, biofloc require very little land and can be done anywhere provided there in a dependable water source and power supply. Thus fresh water fish farming will provide the bulk of growth in fisheries sector in coming years.
- (d) Government of India has extended financial support for various extension activities in the State of Maharashtra such as training and capacity building programs, outreach activities, demonstration  units  to  increase  technical  knowledge  of  fishers.  In  addition,  training materials are being uploaded in MatsyaSetu app for self-learning.

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