(a) whether any plans are in place to upgrade the physical infrastructure for pisciculture in the country, especially with respect to cage culture;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is proposing to extend marketing support to States for the export of fish to boost the revenue of the fisheries sector; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)
(a) to (d) : A Statement is placed on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to the Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*129 put in by Shri Pinaki Mishra, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha for answer on 11th February, 2020 regarding Upgradation of Pisciculture Infrastructure
(a) and (b) : Yes, Sir. The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying plans to upgrade the physical infrastructure for pisciculture in the country and is implementing various schemes/programmes for development of fisheries including creation of infrastructure. Details of the Central Schemes being implemented 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 is being implemented since 2015-16 for development of fisheries in the country. The CSS inter-alia, provides financial assistance for creation of infrastructure for pisciculture such as installation of cages in reservoirs and open sea, cages for fish culture in brackishwater, establishment of fish brood banks, hatcheries, construction of ponds, rearing ponds, fish feed mills, development of post-harvest infrastructure like ice plants, cold storages, ice plants-cum-cold storages and development of fish landing centre in reservoirs. Details of the physical infrastructure facilities taken up under the CSS for pisciculture activities in the country, especially with respect to cage culture are furnished at Annexure-I.
(ii) A new scheme titled Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Fund (FIDF) was launched in 2019-20 with a fund size of Rs. 7522.48 crore for providing access to concessional finance for development fisheries infrastructure in the country. Under the FIDF, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying provides interest subvention up to 3% per annum for providing the concessional finance by the Nodal Loaning Entities for development of infrastrucutre in the fisheries sector.
(c) and (d) : Yes, Sir. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is extending monitory support to the States and Union Territories under the Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries Scheme. The scheme provides financial assistance to the State Governments and Union Territories for creation of marketing infrastructure facilities for fisheries such as retail fish markets, mobile fish hubs, retail fish outlets (Kiosks), fish preservation and fish transport vehicles. The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) also provides for development of modern fish markets, fish processing units, fish preservation, fish transport and cold chain network infrastructure. Besides, this Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry is implementing various schemes and training programmes for increasing the unit value of the production and export of value-added marine products from the country and strengthening the capture fisheries sector to enhance the compliance of importing country requirements.
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