IEP Chandigarh, July 9
In order to supplement the income of farmers and encourage diversification in the agricultural sector of the state, Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is all set to increase the fish farming area to 20,000 hectares from 16,812 hectares presently, which will increase fish production to 2 Lakh tonnes. This was announced by Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Mr Gurmeet Singh Khudian on the eve of “National Fish Farmers Day”, which is celebrated to commemorate Professor Dr. K.H. Alikunhi and Dr. Hiralal Chaudhury for their contribution in achieving the successful induced breeding of carp fish on July 10, 1957 for the first time in the country. Congratulating the fish farmers and stakeholders, he said that the fish seed production will be enhanced to level of 25 Crore from current 20 Crore, in coming years. Urging the farmers to adopt fish farming to increase their income, Mr Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that subsidy amounting to Rs. 20 Crore has been distributed to 366 beneficiaries for various projects under PMMSY Scheme. Underlining the steps taken for the development of the fisheries sector in the State, the Cabinet Minister said that an insulated van has been granted on subsidy for transportation of fish and its products, besides setting up a private sector’s first mini fish feed mill in Jalandhar district with the provision of subsidy. He informed that there are 15 Government Fish Seed Farms, 11 Fish Feed Mills and 7 Soil-Water testing Laboratories for the convenience of fish farmers in the State. The government is also providing free training to adopt fish and shrimp farming. Punjab Government has been providing 40% to 60% subsidy on various projects related to fisheries sector like new fish and shrimp ponds, re-circulatory aquaculture system, bio-floc culture system, fish shops, fish transportation vehicles, cold storage, etc.; through which means of self-employment is being provided to the young generation. In saline affected districts, special efforts are being made by the Government to develop shrimp farming at a large scale. The Demonstration Farm-cum-Training Center established at Village Ena Khera in Sri Muktsar Sahib district has been functioning to provide all kinds of facilities to the shrimp farmers, he added. The Cabinet Minister informed that the area under shrimp farming in the State has now crossed 1200 acres and the Government has been making concerted efforts to increase the area to over 5,000 acres in the next five years.
