Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh said that in the last four and half years, Rs 1915.33 crore has been released for the implementation of Blue Revolution schemes with an aim at doubling the income of farmers. Singh said this while inaugurating the Fifth World Fisheries Day in Patna on Thursday.
“Under the Blue Revolution scheme, 29,128 hectares has been developed for aquaculture and fishermen are being benefitted. Besides, 7441 traditional boats have been modernized and converted into motorized boats. The government has approved Rs 7522 crore Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). This fund will create employment opportunities to over 9.40 lakhs fishers/ fishermen/ fisher folks and other entrepreneurs in fishing and allied activities and attract private investment in creation and management of fisheries infrastructure facilities”, said the Minister.
He further added that the FIDF would help in the creation of fisheries infrastructure facilities both in marine and inland fisheries sectors, which would boast fish production and help achieve target of Rs 15 million tonne by 2020 set under Blue revolution. Besides, the FIDF aims to achieve a sustainable growth of 8 % to 9 % in a move to augment fish production to the level of about 20 million tonnes by 2022-23.
The Minister informed that for the development of fisheries sector in Bihar, the present government released Rs. 64.32 crore during 2014-15 to 2018-19 as compared to Rs. 4.95 crore given during 2009-10 to 2013-14. Apart from this, as part of Prime Minister special package to Bihar, the fisheries sector was sanctioned Rs 279.55 crore under which the first installment of Centre’s share of Rs. 40.79 crore has been released.
World Fisheries Day is being celebrated to commemorate the event of meeting of the working fishermen and women representing ‘World Forum of Fish Harvesters & Fish Workers’ from 18 countries in New Delhi on November 21, 1997. ‘World Fisheries Forum (WFF)’ was established to advocate a global mandate of sustainable fishing practices and policies.