(a) the details of the steps taken by the Government to encourage pisciculture and achievements made so far, State-wise, district-wise during the last three years; and
(b) the number of farmers benefitted under the said scheme so far in the country along with the details there of, State-wise, Union Territory-wise and district-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)
(a) and (b): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing various schemes/programmes for development of fisheries including pisciculture. Details of the Central Schemes/Programmes implemented are as below:
(i) The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries implemented from 2015-16 to 2019-20 for development of fisheriesin the country. The CSS inter-alia, extended financial assistance for creation of fisheries infrastructure including pisciculture activities such as construction of grow-out ponds for freshwater, brackish and saline water aquaculture, quality seed rearing facilities, establishment of fish brood banks, hatcheries, installation of cages in reservoirs, seed rearing facilities fish raceways, development of waterlogged areas, Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS), as well as training and skill development of fish farmers.
(ii) A dedicated fund namely, ‘Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund’ (FIDF) with a total fund size of Rs.7,522.48 crore has been created in the year 2018-19 for providing concessional finance for creation and strengthening of fisheries infrastructure facilities including in the field of pisciculture like development of hatcheries and aquaculture, setting up of brood banks and establishing of cage culture in reservoirs.
(iii) Extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers and fish farmers, in the year 2018-19 to help them to meet their working capital needs for pisciculture.
(iv) The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme namely “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)” with highest ever estimated investment of ?20050 crore in fisheries sector for a period of 5 years with effect from the financial year 2020-21 including pisciculture. PMMSY inter-alia aims at enhancing fish production and productivity by expansion, intensification, diversification, technological infusion and productive utilization of land and water in both inland and marine sectors through pisciculture activities such as setting up of ponds for freshwater, saline and brackish water aquaculture, input support, facilities like brood banks, hatcheries, rearing facilities, quality seed units and high density aquaculture activities like Re-circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS), Bio-floc and cage culture along with imparting training for skill development and capacity building among fishers and fish farmers.
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying during the past three financial years, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, has approved the proposals to the tune of Rs. 5167.23 crore with total fund release of Rs. 1406.98 Crore for development of fisheries sector including pisciculture in all the States/Union Territories benefitting 9.42 lakh fishers. The details of state-wise progress made during the last three years is furnished at Annexure-I.
*****