Launching the NFDB in Hyderabad on Saturday, he said the full potential of Indian Fisheries will be realized through coordination with different agencies. There would be an integrated approach, from ensuring proper input availability to marketing.
The Minister revealed that an amount of Rs.151 crores was provided to NFDB for the current financial year and for the next six years, till 2012, a budget provision of Rs. 2100 crores had been made to the Board. Shri Pawar said the issues to be addressed by the NFDB immediately are diversification of species and systems, water management, feeds and cold chains and improving the present levels of profitability besides integration with other farming systems and recycling of organic matter. He felt aqua shops as single window facility for providing seed, feed, other inputs and market linkages are an important element for sustained aquaculture production.
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr.Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy speaking on the occasion said that fisheries would provide supplementary employment to the farmers in times of drought. Recounting the problems faced by the fisheries sector the Chief Minister said insurance companies are not coming forward to provide insurance cover resulting in denial of credit facilities by the banks. He wanted licensing to be introduced in brackish water prawn culture. He felt there is under exploitation of deep sea fishing which should be addressed to increase marine food production. He wanted research to be taken up in developing disease resistant steins and suggested an integrated approach for aqua culture involving in marine and coastline as well as river line fisheries.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Taslimuddin said that the present fish production would increase from 6.4 million tonnes to 9.5 million tonnes in the next five years. The fisheries sector which is providing employment opportunities for 14 million people in the country is poised to develop in a big way with the launch of NFDB, he added.
Ministers of Andhra Pradesh Smt. Sabita Reddy, Md. Fareeduddin, and Shri Susheel Kumar Modi, Dy. Chief Minister of Bihar, Smt. Charu Sheila Sohoni, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy and senior officers of Central and State Government were present on the occasion.
TheFishSite News Desk
National Fisheries Development Board launched
INDIA - The Union Minister for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Sharad Pawar has said the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) would function as a coordinating mechanism between different agencies and a platform for partnerships.
National Fisheries Development Board launched - INDIA - The Union Minister for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Sharad Pawar has said the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) would function as a coordinating mechanism between different agencies and a platform for partnerships.