In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, union minister Amit Shah said the plan for setting up of new primary cooperative societies, including fisheries cooperative societies is being implemented by NCDC with the support of NABARD, NDDB, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), National Level Cooperative Federations and State Governments.
The plan would provide small and marginal farmers, including marginal fishermen engaged in fish production, with requisite forward and backward linkages, skill development, processing & cold chain infrastructure facilities, thus enabling them to increase their incomes.
By availing the benefits under the schemes identified for convergence, marginal fishermen will be able to modernize/upgrade and set up various fisheries and aquaculture related infrastructural facilities which would help them in improving their productivity.
Shah talked of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)- PMMSY under which the beneficiaries are eligible for financial assistance of up to 40 % to 60% of the total project cost/unit cost.
Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Fund (FIDF)- FIDF aims to create infrastructural facilities, both in marine and inland fisheries sector, he added.
