Delhi headquartered apex body of fishery cooperatives-Fishcopfed has submitted a vision plan for ten years to the Department of fisheries, Government of India under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and demanded for a package of Rs 300 crore for five year to develop the fishery sector.
Talking to Indian Cooperative Fishcopfed MD B K Mishra said, “The federation has submitted a vision plan for 10 years to the Deptt. of Fisheries, Govt. of India for funding under PMMSY. Now the guidelines are ready but fund flow is yet to start”.
Sharing his plans for five years he said, “We will make 500 FPOs in fisheries sector, propagation of Kisan Credit Cards in fisheries Sector, working in aspirational districts of India for fisheries development, among other things.
Readers would recall that in May 2020 the cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana with highest ever investment of Rs 20,050 crore in fisheries sector comprising of Central share of Rs 9407 crore, State share of Rs 4880 crore and Beneficiaries contribution of Rs 5763 crore.
“Major highlights for five years if the states provide data of fishers, the insurance cover could be provided to over 10 million fishers. Database of around 21000 FCSs and over 42 lakh fishers under PMSBY. Training of over 10,000 fishers”, he said.
Adding further Mishra said “It can be enhanced to 50,000 fishers every year. It has a full -fledged Training Centre at BBSR which could be developed as a National Institute of Fishery Cooperative Management. Developing National Fish Seed Farm at Banswara, Rajasthan. Setting up of 16 Aqua One Centres in fisheries Sector”.
He further added that, “Fishcopfed has 9 offices in different states and has networking with all states and UTs. It is covering around 30 lakh fishers, we have an ambitious plan to cover 10 million fishers in 10 years and propose to cover boat insurance”, Mishra added.
“Because of the Corona scare, no training is organized. Fishcopfed is devising ways to sustain. The GOI should promote the fishery cooperatives to achieve the targets under the Blue Revolution”, he asserted.
“Though the corpus fund given to fishcopfed for training activities has been stuck due to Covid-19, no business is going on in the current situation and it has become a challenge for Fishcopfed to run the national and state offices. Even our two employees died due to the coronavirus”, he lamented.
Earlier, thanking the Union Finance Minister for announcing a budget of Rs 20k cr for fishermen, he showed willingness to set up fishcopfed as a nodal agency to insure the boats.
Readers would recall that the Best National Federation Award was given to Fishcopfed by the Outlook Group during 2017-18 by the former Union Minister for Agriculture and also bagged the Swachhata Award from the nodal Ministry during 2018-19.
The MD has already been awarded by the International Cooperative Fisheries Organization (ICFO) for his outstanding performance. Further, the federation has been getting “A”grade audit classification since its inception.