Dora flexes his co-op muscle, organizes a high-voltage event

According to a delayed news coming to Indian Cooperative desk, Odisha Fisheries Cooperative Corporation (FISHFED) organized a high voltage event on the occasion of the 66th All Indian Cooperative Week-2019 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar. The event was attended by Agriculture Minister and Farmers Empowerment Minister Dr Arun Kumar Sahoo and Minister of Cooperation Ranendra Pratap Swain and others.

Hundreds of farmers associated with the fishery sector across the state were the part of the function. National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Chief Executive Officer N. Satyanarayan and Fishcopfed MD B.K. Mishra were present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Sahoo urged the youth of the state to be involved in the Fisheries Sector, which is growing in a big way. The Minister announced that Odisha is exporting fish worth Rs.3100 crore and there is huge scope in the sector. The minister said there are 65000 Panchayat Ponds out of which 20 Percent will be handed over to Self Help Groups (SHG) for fish farming.

Sahoo further added that over 14 lakh people are engaged in the Fisheries Sector and a large scale change is taking place in the fisheries sector through Cooperatives.

Minister Cooperation and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Ranendra Pratap Swain said the Fisheries sector has improved a lot with the support of cooperative societies.

Fishfed Chairman T Prasad Rao Dora who is also the chairman of the apex body of fishery cooperatives Fishcopfed chaired the ceremony. Dora said all over India there are 20 thousand coops engaged in the fisheries sector. Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat are ahead of the curve in fish farming.

He said FISHFED is connecting with Primary Fishermen Cooperative Societies and this bonding has strengthened in a big way during these years.

National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) Chief Executive N Satyanarayan, who has been actively supporting and empowering the Cooperatives said with more training these organizations will be empowered to scale up their activities. He lauded the efforts of FISFED and FISHCOFED, which is engaged in the fisheries sector and helping to doubling the income of farmers.

During the occasion Distribution of insurance claim cheques under PMSBY by Dr. Arun Kumar Sahu, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Govt.of Odisha during a State level Cooperative Function during Cooperative Week Celebrations was also held. Fishcopfed is insuring 11.5 lakh fishers of Odisha state, the highest in the country. It proposes to launch PMJJBY and pension Schemes for the poor fisher community.