SHILLONG, Sept 12 NNN : As part of promoting livelihood, the central government is all set to promote by double the fish production in the North Eastern region by 2020, officials Tuesday said.“We are targeting a total production of seven lakh tones of fish by achieving a per capita availability of 15 kg by 2020”, Director of Odisha-based Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) Dr P Jayasankar said.
Jayasankar was addressing at a “consultative conclave on Aquaculture Development” for the stakeholders of North Eastern states including Sikkim held in in Shillong on Tuesday.
He further informed, “We are already on the job” adding “ We have set a target for the region to double its fish production in another eight years.”
Mentionably, the conclave aimed at identifying the critical gaps in aquaculture development in the region and to develop an strategic action plan to match the requirements of the region.
Further the CIFA director said, “The NE states has been identified as “rich” in natural resources for fisheries” adding “A total of 14,648 km of reverine fisheries resources like rivers, lakes, ponds, streams and flood plains are ideal environment for development of fisheries in the region.”He however lamented on the increased exploitation of aquatic resources and said that expansion of fishery resources could open opportunities in aquaculture development.
Presently, the region produces over three lakh Metric tonne of fish in a year with Meghalaya contributing to 4,577 MT, Assam 2.3 lakh MT, Manipur 20,200 MT, Mizoram 2,901 MT, Nagaland 6,585 MT, Tripura 49,231 MT and Sikkim 180 MT.
Speaking at the conclave as the chief guest, State Chief Secretary WMS Pariat informed that the state government is taking up fishery on high scale. He said, the government had even launched a state flagship programme for promoting fishery development in the region.
He said, “Development in fishery sector will generate wealth and employment for the people of the region and it will also prevent crores of rupees from being drained out of the state by importing fish.”
He however called upon financial institutions to support the people’s friendly initiatives of fishery development in the region.
Pariat also dwelt at length on the need to developed strategies to preserve conservation of fishes in their natural habitat and advised the stakeholders to upgrade and equipped themselves with skills and also to be educated from the daylong deliberations of the conclave.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Principal Secretary of Fisheries department KN Kumar said, “The state government is raising 100 fish sanctuaries to promote tourism.”
He informed, “Apart, the government has set a target to produce 25, 000 Mt of fish in a year from these sanctuaries” adding “Investment would also be raised from Rs 3 crore to 1200 crore a year.”
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/fish-production-to-be-increased/
