Lok Sabha Question No. 2340 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Fishermen and Aquaculture Farmer
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2340

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## Fishermen and Aquaculture Farmer

## 2340.  Shri Malaiyarasan D:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Kisan  Samridhi  Yojana  (PMMKSY)  and  the specific benefits it provides to fishermen and aquaculture farmers in the country;
- (b)  the details of funds allocated and disbursed under PMMKSY within Tamil Nadu for the past three years;
- (c)  the steps being taken to ensure that fishermen and aquaculture farmers, particularly in remote areas, have easy access to the financial assistance and technical support provided under PMMKSY;
- (d)  the measures being implemented to increase fish production, enhance sustainable fishing practices, and improve market access for the products of small and medium fishermen under this scheme; and
- (e)  whether the Government plans to introduce any reforms or expansion of the PMMKSY, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a)  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying  is implementing a new Central Sector Sub-scheme namely the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi  Sah-Yojana  (PM-MKSSY)  under  the  ongoing  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for a period of four years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 at an estimated outlay of ₹6000 crore comprising of ₹3,000 crore the public finance and the remaining ₹3,000 crore corresponding private investment. The targeted beneficiaries under the PM-MKSSY inter alia include Fishermen, aquaculture farmers, fish workers, fish vendors, fisheries micro and small  enterprises,  Cooperatives,  Federations,  Village  Level  Organizations  like  Self  Help Groups (SHGs), Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs), Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs), Startups, etc.

The  Sub-scheme  has  four  components  such  as  Component  1-A:  Formalization  of fisheries sector and facilitating access of fisheries microenterprises to Government of India programs for working capital financing, Component 1-B: Facilitating adoption of aquaculture insurance, Component 2: Supporting microenterprises to improve fisheries sector value chain efficiencies,  Component  3:  Adoption  and  expansion  of  fish  and  fishery  product  safety  and quality assurance systems, and Component 4: Project management, monitoring and reporting.

Under these components, the Sub-scheme provides support for: (i) formalization of the unorganized part of fisheries sector through National Fisheries Digital Platform and its Apps (ii) facilitating  access  to  institutional  credit,  (iii)  adoption  of  aquaculture  insurance by  providing 'one-time incentive' to the farmers by providing 40% of the premium (up to ₹25,000 per hectare, or ₹1 lakh per farmer for 4 hectares, SC/ST and women beneficiaries get an additional 10% incentive (iv) improvement of fisheries value-chain efficiencies and establishment of supply chains of safe fish products to consumers under Component 2&3 through Performance grant for a Microenterprise i.e. 25% of the total investment or Rs.35 lakhs, whichever is lower, for General Category and 35% of total investment or Rs.45 lakhs, whichever is lower, for SC, ST and  Women  owned  microenterprises.  In  addition,  Performance  Grant  for  Village  Level Organizations and Federations of SHGs, FFPOs and Cooperatives shall not exceed 35% of total  investment  or  Rs.200  lakhs,  whichever  is  lower.  Along  with  this,  PM-MKSSY  aims  to provide an amount of Rs.10,000 and Rs.15,000 per year for creation and maintenance of jobs for a men and woman respectively subject to the limit of 50% of total eligible grant.

(b) The PM-MKSSY is a Central Sector Sub-scheme and no funds has been allocated to the State Government under this Sub-scheme as such. Under the PMMSY, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India during the last four years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current year (2024-25) has sanctioned projects to the tune of Rs.1152.85 crore to Government of Tamil Nadu with central share of Rs. 445.36 crore and released Rs 136.31 crore so far. The major projects include establishment of multipurpose seaweed park, development of harbours and fish landing centres, installation of artificial reefs, development of brood banks, area expansion in  fresh  and  brackishwater  aquaculture,  seaweed  culture  rafts  and  monoline  culture, ornamental breeding and rearing units, biofloc, recirculatory aquaculture systems, Livelihood and nutritional support during annual fishing ban period etc.

(c) For facilitating easy access to benefit available under PMMKSSY including financial and technical support, the entire process of application by the intended beneficiaries has been made available online.

(d) The Sub-scheme aims to undertake training and capacity building in the form of financial literacy, facilitating project preparation and documentation, besides dissemination of information  related  to  new  technology,  adoption  of  Good  Management  Practices  and  Best Management Practices, Sustainable Fisheries Management etc. through outreach programs. These  measures  contribute  in  increasing  fish  production,  enhancing  sustainable  fishing practices, and improving market access for the products of small and medium fishermen under this scheme.

(e)  The  Sub-scheme  has  new  concept  of  incentivisation  in  terms  of  performance  grant  to enhance production and productivity and adoption of quality assurance systems, enhancing of value chain efficiency and risk mitigation provision.