Director of fisheries P Krishna Mohan said the state produced 4.67 lakh MT during the last financial year. "It was a rise of 13 per cent and inspired us to set a higher target, which will help improve fish export," he said.
Last year, the state did business of Rs 2,200 crore by exporting 1.1 lakh MT fish after meeting the demand of domestic market, he said.
The state has taken several steps, including providing subsidy and technical help to the fishers and farmers to increase production. A farmer belonging to general caste and SC/ST would get 45 per cent and 50 per cent subsidy respectively on digging ponds for the purpose, the TimesOfIndia reports.
Under its new area development plan, the government would develop 3,000 hectares of land to expand fish farming. Similarly, it is conducting demonstrations on intensive aquaculture in 100 potential blocks of the state to encourage farmers to take up pisciculture.
"The farmers are told about the scientific methods to increase production. They are also being provided assistance to the tune of Rs 10,000 for an acre of water area for using artificial feed for aquaculture," said joint director of fisheries Debananda Bhanja.
The government has appointed 124 assistant fisheries officers and 112 junior fisheries technical assistants to carry out government programmes and give technical help to farmers across the state. It also plans to employ 55 more assistant fisheries officers for development of pisciculture in the state.
The government has formulated the Odisha Fisheries Policy 2015 and targets to double fish production by 2019-20, the sources added.
