Patting himself on the back Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh claimed that ever since the NDA govt has taken over, the fish production in the country has registered about 19 percent growth. Growth in marine fisheries was about 6.65 percent, whereas the growth rate of 26.07 percent has been achieved in inland fisheries in country, Singh underlined.
Singh was addressing Aqua Goa Mega Fish Festival, 2017, organized at SAG Campal Ground, Panaji, Goa. Vinod Palyekar, Minister for Fisheries, Government of Goa, was also present during this occasion.
The Minister was pleased to inform that the country has earned more than 5.78 billion US dollars foreign exchange in 2016-17 through, exports of fish and fishery products.
The Agriculture Minister also informed that India is first in prawn production and it is the largest exporter of prawns in the world too. The average annual growth rate of fish and fish products in the world was 7.5% during the last decade, whereas India has attained first position with 14.8% average annual growth in the export of fish & fishery products.
Singh said that foreseeing the vast resource, potential and possibilities in the fisheries sector, the Prime Minister has called for a Blue Revolution. Accordingly, the Government has merged all the schemes of fisheries sector into an umbrella scheme of Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries and approved with the outlay of Rs. 3000 crores.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh said that India is second largest fish producer in the world. Overall fish production has increased from 0.75 million tonne of 1950-51 to 11.41 million tonne in 2016-17. Besides, this sector provides employment and livelihood support to more than 15 million people of in the country.