Statement referred to in reply to the Lok Sabha Starred Question No †*40 put in by Shri Vijay Kumar, Member of Parliament for answer on 19th November, 2019 regarding Fish Production
(a) to (d) : Yes Sir. India is the second largest aquaculture producing country in the world and its total fish production accounts for about 6.3% of the global fish production. The Government has taken several initiatives to in a sustainable and responsible manner to enhance fish production and productivity. The major programmes/policies taken up in the recent past by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Animal Fisheries Husbandry and Dairying for development of fisheries in a sustainable manner in the States and UTs are as below:
(i) The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries at a total central outlay of Rs.3000 crore implemented since 2015-16 for development of fisheries in the country.
(ii) Creation of a dedicated fund namely, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Fund (FIDF) with a fund size of Rs 7522.48 crore for providing concessional finance for development fisheries infrastructure in the country.
(iii) Extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to help them to meet their working capital needs.
(iv) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for fisheries has been announced in the union Budget, 2019 with an aim to establish a robust fisheries management framework and address the critical gaps in the value chain, including infrastructure, modernisation, traceability, production, productivity, post harvest management and quality control.
(v) Launching of a National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 for sustainable development and management of marine fisheries.
(vi) Formulation of a National Indian Fishing and Aquaculture Policy, 2019 to create enabling environment for sustainable development of inland fisheries and aquaculture in the country.
(vii) Creation of a separate Department in February, 2019 followed up with creation of a new Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in June, 2019 for focused attention and development of the fisheries sector, consolidate the sectoral gains, sustain its growth through policy and financial support in a sustainable and responsible manner.
A total budget of Rs 784.75 crore has been allocated during the current financial year 2019-20 for fisheries towards achieving the targets of Blue Revolution.
(e): Under the CSS on Blue Revolution financial assistance is provided for (i) development of freshwater and brackishwater aquaculture including construction of ponds and input costs, (ii) installation of cages/pens in reservoirs and other open water bodies, (iii) Re-circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS), (iv) development of ornamental fisheries, (v) mariculture including open sea cage culture, seaweed culture, bivalve culture and pearl culture, (vi) training and skilled development, (vii) motorization of traditional craft, (viii) assistance for deep sea fishing, (ix) post-harvest infrastructure facilities like ice plants, cold storage, insulated and refrigerated trucks amongst the others. Under the FIDF, the Government of India provides interest subvention up to 3% per annum for providing the concessional finance by the Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs) at the interest rate not lower than 5% per annum. Under KCC facility, interest subvention is available for fishers and fish farmers at 2% per annum at the time of disbursal of loan and an additional interest subvention of 3 % per annum in case of prompt repayment as Prompt Repayment Incentive.
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