Lok Sabha Question No. 353 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-05
Subject: Fish Processing Industries
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dhanush M Kumar

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 353 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## Fish Processing Industries

## 353. SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

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

- (a)    whether  the  Government has set up fish processing industries in the State of Tamil Nadu during each of the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government has formulated robust export strategies to enhance the income of farmers through fish and fish products and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether the Government is providing incentives for setting up a cold supply chain for fish and fish products;
- (d)   if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)   whether Indian railway is currently operating refrigerated coaches for fish transportation and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) :  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying  is implementing flagship scheme namely 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)' with highest ever investment of ₹20050 crore in fisheries sector for a period of 5 years with effect from the financial year 2020-21 to FY 2024-25. PMMSY inter-alia supports creation of modern  post-harvest cold chain infrastructures  such as storages, ice plants and  fish transportation vehicles including with ice flaking and ice crushing units etc. The Department of Fisheries, Government of India has approved proposals to the tune of Rs. 1368.10 crore for development of cold chain infrastructure under PMMSY including construction of 563 cold storages, modernization of 78 cold storages/ice plants and 25193 post-harvest transportation facilities. So far, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, under PMMSY during the last three  financial  years  (FY  2020-21  to  2022-23),  and  current  financial  year  (2023-24),  has approved 38 ice plants/cold storages, 794 post-harvest transportation facilities, 3 fish retail markets,  and  55  fish  kiosks  for  marketing  of  fish,  to  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  aimed  at development of fish processing and post-harvest industry in the State. While the Government of Tamil Nadu has reported that during the last three years, they have not set up Fish Processing Industries  in  the  State,  the  Marine  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (MPEDA)  has informed that three fish processing units have been registered in Tamil Nadu State during the last three years, as summarized below:
- (b) :  PMMSY inter-alia aims at enhancing contribution to Agriculture GVA and doubling of export  income  from  the  fisheries  sector.  PMMSY  intends  to  address  critical  gaps  in  fish production, productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernization and strengthening of value chain, reduction of post-harvest losses, traceability etc. In order to enhance the global competitiveness of fisheries sector, PMMSY supports for quality  fish  production,  species  diversification,  promotion  of  export-oriented  species, branding, standards and certification, training and capacity building, creation of post-harvest infrastructure  with  emphasis  on  seamless  cold  chain  and  development  of  modern  fishing harbours and fish landing centers, etc. Other than that, MPEDA is adopting the strategies to promote and enhance exports in the existing markets and for penetrating into new markets the strategies  are  adopted, viz. facilitating participation of exporters in  International trade fairs, conducting buyer seller meets and also markets research. MPEDA is also supporting the farmers in various means to enhance the quality production for export by formation of clusters  among small-scale farmers and promotion of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) among farmers through training and awareness programmes, testing of quality of the produce across the value chain through the ELISA labs and Quality Control (QC) labs, facilitating water and soil quality parameters through the Aqua One Centers.
- (c) and (d): In addition to the financial assistance provided under PMMSY for development of cold  chain  infrastructure  including  construction  of  cold  storages,  modernization  of  cold storages/ice plants and post-harvest transportation facilities, MPEDA has been implementing financial assistance schemes for setting up of a cold supply chain for fish and fishery products. The schemes are not State-specific.  The eligible seafood exporter can apply for financial assistance for setting up of a cold supply chain for fish and fishery products, especially for export purposes. The details of financial assistance released by MPEDA under various cold chain schemes for the past 3 years is given below:
- (e) : It is informed by the Ministry of Railways that, currently no refrigerated coaches are operated for fish transportation.

| Year    | No. of Processing Units   |
|---------|---------------------------|
| 2020-21 | 1                         |
| 2021-22 | 2                         |
| 2022-23 | Nil                       |
| Total   | 3                         |

| Cold Chain Development (CCD) Scheme   |   Physical units |   Financial (Rs in Lakh) |
|---------------------------------------|------------------|--------------------------|
| CCD Assistance for Large Cold Storage |               22 |                   983.77 |
| CCD Assistance for conveyance         |                1 |                     7.89 |
| Total                                 |               23 |                   991.66 |

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