FISHERIES sector in India

• India is World's 2nd largest fish producer and 2nd largest aquaculture nation after China.
• Fisheries are India's single largest Agri export. The USA is the largest market for Indian seafood products. 1% GDP and 5% Agri GDP.

Blue Revolution

• It was launched during the 7th FYP through Fish Farmers Development Agency. It improved aquaculture through new technologies of fish breeding, rearing, marketing and export.
• Blue Revolution 2.0/ Neel Kranti Mission: Focus is on development and management of fisheries. This covers inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries including deep sea fishing, mariculture and all activities undertaken by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).

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National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB):

• Established in 2006. It is an Autonomous organization. under the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry.
• To enhance fish production and productivity and holistic fishery development.
• Objectives
  1. Triple production and export earnings by 2020.
  2. Transforming the fisheries sector into a modern industry and doubling their income.
  3. Increase productivity and better Post-harvest marketing infra including e-commerce.

PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, 2019

• It aims to turn India into a hotspot for fish and aquatic products.
• Through appropriate policy, marketing and infrastructure support.
• To promote non-farm activities and increase the income of fisheries sector with better fisheries, infra creation, increasing production and productivity, and improved post-harvest management.
• To increase fish production to 15 MT by 2020 under the Blue revolution and to 20 MT by 2022-23.
• Role of MGNREGA: It has started to develop the farm ponds, where pisciculture is taking place.

Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) = 7522 crore fund

• Creation of fisheries infra facilities both in marine and Inland fisheries sectors. Attract private investment in the creation and management of fisheries infra facilities.
• To increase fish production to 15 MT by 2020 under the Blue revolution and to 20 MT by 2022-23.
• To achieve a sustainable growth of 8% -9%. Employment to 9.4 lakh people.
• It will also provide concessional finance to States and entities, cooperatives, individuals etc.
• Loan will be for 5 years from 2018-19 to 2022-23 and repayment for 12 years.

Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs)

• Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) provides financial assistance for the setting up of Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) to economically empower the fishers and fish farmers and enhance their bargaining power. The financial support provided under the PMMSY to each FFPOs primarily includes the cost of formation and incubation, management, equity grant and training and skill development.
• The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying through Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW), Government of India assisted setting up of 5 FFPOs in the states of Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on pilot basis under the erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Scheme Blue Revolution-Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries and these 5 FFPOs have already been registered.
• Further, under PMMSY, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying during 2020-21 has accorded approval to the proposal of the National Cooperative Development Corporation, MoAFW for setting up of 50 FFPOs at a total cost of Rs.24.50 crore.
• Besides, approval has also been accorded during 2020-21 to the proposal of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) for the setting up of 22 FFPOs at the total cost of Rs. 10 crores under the PMMSY.

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