Lok Sabha Question No. 3905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-09
Subject: Fish Production
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3905

TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  AUGUST, 2016

## FISH PRODUCTION

## 3905. SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  identified  fisheries  as  a  key  sector  for  growth  and  encouraged fishermen to adopt new techniques to increase fishery output, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/ being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b) whether the Union Government has launched any schemes on the occasion of Fisherman's Day including  an  agriculture  roadmap  to  usher  in  rainbow  revolution  in  the  States  in  which  animal husbandry,  fishery  and  hatchery  have  been  identified  as  sectors  for  growth  in  addition  to traditional farm activities, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that fishery sector has tremendous potential for growth and there is a need for fishermen to employ new techniques to increase production, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  train  fishermen  at  national  institutes  outside  some States  where  measures  may  be  taken  for  restoration  of  ponds  and  water  bodies  suited  for  fish farming and fish seed may be made available for them to boost the production, if so, the details thereof  along  with  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  redress  the  problems  of fishermen?

## ANSWER

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

(a)to(c):  Yes,  Madam.  Considering  its  immense  potential  for  growth,  the  Government  of  India  has identified fisheries as a key sector to achieve economic prosperity and nutritional security by effective utilization of water resources in a sustainable manner. Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries has restructured the Central Plan Schemes by merging all fisheries schemes under an umbrella of Blue Revolution. The restructured Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries  approved  in  December,  2015  by  the  Government  provides  for  a focused development and management of the fisheries sector to increase both fish production and fish productivity from aquaculture and fisheries resources. This includes both the inland and  marine  fisheries  sector,  including  deep  sea  fishing  with  special  focus  on  modern  and innovative  techniques.  The  objectives  of  the  scheme  are  to  (i)    increase  the  overall  fish production in a responsible and sustainable manner  for economic prosperity (ii) modernize the fisheries with special focus on new technologies (iii) ensure food and nutritional security (iv)  generate  employment  and  export  earnings  and  (v)  ensure  inclusive  development  and empower fishers and aquaculture farmers.

- (d): The  Blue  Revolution  scheme  also  provides  for  Training,  skill  development  and  capacity building  programmes  for  fishers,  fish  farmers  and  other  stakeholders  to  be  carried  through State  Governments,  UTs,  Central  Government  organizations/  institutions  such  as  Krishi Vigyan Kendra(KVKs,) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institutes, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMAs), Agricultural Technology Application Reasearch  Institutes(ATARIs),  Fisheries  Institutes,  State/UT  owned  organizations,  State Agriculture/  Veterinary/  Fishery  Universities,  Fisheries  Federations,  Corporation  etc.    The scheme  also  provides  financial  assistance  for  renovation  of  existing  ponds,  rejuvenation  of urban/semi-urban/rural  lakes/tanks  for  fish  culture  and  establishment  of  fish  hatcheries  to ensure  supply  of  quality  seeds  to  fishers  and  fish  farmers  at  an  affordable  rate  towards enhancement of fish production.

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