Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr. L Murugan has recently said that India stands third in the world in terms of fish production. India is the 3rd largest fish producing and 2nd largest aquaculture nation in the world after China.
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What The Minister Said:
He said, India stands third in the world in terms of fish production. Making specific reference to Karnataka, the Union Minister said that 734.77 crore rupees was allocated to the state under the flagship scheme of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) from 2020-21 till date for the development of infrastructure facilities.
What Is Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY):
- The vision is to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector.
- The main motto of PMMSY is ‘Reform, Perform and Transform’in the fisheries sector.
- Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is the implementing agency.
- The PMMSY is an umbrella scheme with two separate components – Central Sector Scheme and Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) Component is further segregated into non-beneficiary oriented and beneficiary orientated sub-components/activities.
Importance of Fisheries Sector: As A Whole:
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- Around 30 million to over 60 million people in the developing world are involved in inland fisheries; it is thought that about 50% are women.
- Around 65% of fish caught from inland fisheries are from low-income food deficit countries.
- More than 25% of world dietary protein is provided by the fish.
Importance of Fisheries for India:
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- India is the second major producer of fish through aquaculture in the world.
- India is the 4th largest exporter of fish in the world as it contributes 7.7% to the global fish production.
- Fish constituted about 10% of total exports from India and almost 20% of agriculture exports in 2017-18.
- The fisheries and aquaculture production contribute around 1% to India’s GDP and over 5% to the agricultural GDP.
- Around 28 million people are employed in the fisheries sector in India.
- The sector has immense potential to more than double the fishers and fish farmers’ incomes, as envisioned by the government.
Challenges for Fisheries sector:
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- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) points out that nearly 90% of the global marine fish stocks have either been fully exploited or overfished or depleted to the extent that recovery may not be biologically possible.
- Discharge of harmful substances like plastics and other waste into water bodies that cause devastating consequences for aquatic life.
- Changing climate.
Indian Government’s Effort to Improve Fisheries:
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- Establishment of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) during 2018-19.
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: The programme aims to achieve 22 million tonnes of fish production by 2024-25. Also, it is expected to create employment opportunities for 55 lakh people.
- Focus on Blue Revolution: Focuses on creating an enabling environment for integrated and holistic development and management of fisheries for the socio-economic development of the fishers and fish farmers.
- Extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facilities to fishers and fish farmers to help them in meeting their working capital needs.
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