Addressing the National Conference of Fisheries Ministers of Coastal states Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh said like farmers, fishermen will also get the benefit of ‘Kisan Credit Card’.
On this occasion Singh also announced a budgetary provision of Rs 7,522.48 crore for establishing Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund.
The Fund aims to help and benefit 40 lakh fishermen, especially women, self-help groups, weaker sections, said the Minister while underlining that the Centre and coastal states must work together for effective implementation of National Policy on Marine Fisheries which will promote integrated development for next 10 years.
Singh said owing to low prospects of fisheries production along the coast, the government has decided to promote deep sea fishing and has introduced a sub-component ‘Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing’ under the Blue Revolution.
Under this scheme, self-help groups of traditional fishermen are being given 50 per cent of the vessel cost i.e. the central assistance of Rs 40 lakh for vessel costing up to Rs 80 lakh. Advanced and modern deep sea fishing vessels will be built in the country by indigenous technology, he stated.
He informed that in the first year, central funds amounting to more than Rs 300 crore have been released for the implementation of this scheme benefitting fishermen from states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
Singh also stated that the Government has made a budget provision of Rs 7,522.48 crore for the establishment of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FAIDF) which has the potential to benefit 40 lakh marine and inland fishermen, especially women, self-help groups, weaker sections by making available modern infrastructure facilities and increased value of the produce.
He appealed the States to fix fleet size, gear size, minimum legal size of fish, and minimum net size in their respective territorial waters to ensure proper utilization of marine fishery resources through fisheries management.
Agriculture Minister further informed that the Central Government has imposed a ban on the use of harmful fishing methods in EEZ such as LED or artificial light and pair trawling on November 10, 2017. He appealed to all the states to stop such harmful practices in their respective territorial waters. He also called upon the states to adopt mariculture to increase the income of fishermen.
