The Union agriculture ministry will come out with a new national policy on fisheries next month, paving the way to achieve this target through implementation of an umbrella scheme for integrated development and management of fisheries. Private sector will also be involved in a big way to reach that goal, reports TimesOfIndia.
The new policy will cover development and management of inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries including deep sea fishing and all activities undertaken by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) towards realising 'Blue Revolution' in the country.
"The new national policy on fisheries is ready for release early next month. The ministry will on that occasion specify how it would go for nearly three-fold increase in the country's export earnings from fish and fish products in next five years through various policy intervention with an outlay of Rs 3,000 crore for a period of five years," said an official.
He said, "Focus on fisheries, particularly the inland ones, will also help in realising the goal of doubling the income of farmers in next five-six year through involving them in allied activities by tapping various water bodies including newly dug up ponds across the country".
India's fish production has increased from 7.5 lakh tonnes in 1950-51 to 100.70 lakh tonnes during 2014-15, while the export earnings touched Rs. 33,441 crore. It accounts for around 18 per cent of export earnings from the agricultural sector.
Asked how the country would achieve the ambitious target of three-fold increase in export earnings from fish and fish products in next five years, the official said the ministry had already proposed to merge all existing schemes in the fisheries sector that would mainly focus on increasing production and productivity from aquaculture and fisheries resources, both inland and marine.
Besides the increase in fish production, the integrated scheme would stimulate growth of the subsidiary and allied industries and growth of other related economic activities, especially in the coastal regions, leading to many direct and indirect benefits to the entire fisheries sector.
