Lok Sabha Question No. 2685 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Improving Pisciculture Facilities in the Country
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Md Abu Taher Khan

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2685 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH DECEMBER, 2025

## Improving Pisciculture Facilities in the Country

## 2685.  Md Abu Taher Khan:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING  be please to state:

- a)  the  details  of  the  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  pisciculture infrastructure in the country, during the last five years, especially in West Bengal;
2. (b) Whether the Government has calculated average income of fishermen;
3. (c) whether the income of fishermen has increased during the last five years, if so, the details thereof; and
4. (d)  whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  advisories  against  usage  of  harmful preservatives for fishes and the loss of fish for the same, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) :The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India during the last five years (FY 2020-21 to 2024-25) has taken  up  several  initiatives  including  implementing  various  schemes  for  holistic development  of  fisheries  and  aquaculture  including  improvement  of  pisciculture infrastructure  in  the  country.    The  fisheries  development  schemes  implemented include  (i)  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY),  (ii)  Fisheries  and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) and (iii) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana (PM-MKSSY). In addition, Kisan Credit Card(KCC) facility is also provided to fishers and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, during  the  last  five  years  (FY  2020-21  to  FY  2024-25)  has  accorded  approvals  to fisheries  development  proposals  worth  of  Rs.25464.35  crore  of  various  States Governments, Union Territories and other End Implementing Agencies. This includes projects  worth  of  Rs.21,274.16  crore  approved  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Rs.4190.19 crore under Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). The activities approved inter-alia includes expansion of an area of 31551.33 hectares for pisciculture under PMMSY Additionally, Kisan Credit Card facility to  4,94,405 fishers and fish farmers with loan amount of Rs.3692.73  crore  have  been  issued  so  far  .to  meet  their  working  capital.  These initiatives  contributed  towards  enhancement  of  fish  production,  productivity,  quality thereby enhancing the income of fishers and fish farmers.

The Department of Fisheries, Government of India during the last three years (202223 to 2024-25) has accorded approvals to projects of Government of West Bengal amounting to Rs.545.16 crore  under PMMSY, as the Government of West Bengal has not participated in implementation of PMMSY in the initial two years (FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22). In addition, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India has also accorded approval to 18 project proposals at a cost of Rs.66.81 crore for West Bengal under FIDF. While no specific calculation has been made to assess average income of fishers during the last five years, the initiatives taken by the Government of India including diversification of fisheries have been contributing towards augmentation of fish production, productivity, quality to meet the consumer demands and preference and export thereby attributing to enhancement of income of fishers & fish farmers. During the last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25), fish production increased from 141.64 lakh tonne in 2019-20 to 197.75 lakh tonne in 2024-25. Similarly, fisheries export has also increased from Rs.46,666 crore (2019-20) to Rs.62,408 crore (2024-25).

(d):  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying has advised the State Governments and Union Territories to take necessary safety  measures  and  regulatory  actions  to  prevent  use  of  chemical  formalin  in preservation of fish and fisheries products. Further, in order to tackle harmful use of formalin in fish and fishery products intended for human consumption, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India has also advised the State Governments/UTs and Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI)  for  setting  up  a  task  force including  members  from  the  concerned  States  Departments/agencies  for  joint inspection and testing of chemical substances like formalin content in fish. To ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food to the consumers, regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products including fish and fishery products  are  being  carried  out  by  the  Food  Safety  Departments  of  the  respective States/UTs to ensure compliance of the standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Rules and Regulations made there under.

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