Mr Pawar wants to see aquaculture production rise to 10 million tonnes from 7 million tonnes over the next three years.
A report in F and B News says that while addressing the third National Conference of State Fisheries Ministers at Hotel Swosti Plaza in Bhubaneswar (Orissa, the minister, said: "India has been playing an important role in global fisheries as the third largest producer of fish in the world and the second largest producer from aquaculture. With a contribution of 2.9 million tonnes from marine sector and 4.2 million tonnes from inland sector, Indian fisheries sector has continued to make a significant contribution to nutritional security in the country."
The national convention, organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries and Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Ministry of Agriculture, heard Mr Pawar say that the primary objective of the meeting was to develop a roadmap enhancing food fish production to 10 million tonnes by 2012.
He also called for plans to increase exports as well as meeting an greater domestic demand.
In the keynote address, the chief minister of Orissa, Naveen Patnaik urged the union minister to consider a proposal for improving infrastructure and transferring Paradip fish harbour to the state government.
Three Year Plan to Improve Aquaculture
INDIA - Union Minister for Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Sharad Pawar has called on the fish producing states to set out a plan to inrease fish production.
