Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a flagship scheme for the focused and sustainable development of the fishing sector in the country.
PM Modi also launched the e-Gopala app, a comprehensive breed improvement market and an information portal for direct use by farmers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “People involved in fish farming will benefit greatly from this plan. Our goal is that in the next 3-4 years we double our production and give a boost to the fishing sector ”.
He spoke of Jyoti Mandal, Raju, Brijesh and Monica, farmers who are involved in the animal husbandry and fisheries sector and said that their stories have encouraged the prime minister and are a source of inspiration for farmers across the country.
“PMMSY will pave the way for a renewed white revolution (dairy sector) and a sweet revolution (beekeeping sector),” said the prime minister. He also added that 21 states in India will launch the scheme and boost the fortunes of various dairymen and beekeepers.
The PMMSY scheme will see an estimated investment of Rs 20,050 crore from 2020-21 to 2024-25 as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-sufficient India) package. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), this is the highest investment ever made in the fisheries sector.
The prime minister also stressed that the project will also boost Ganges cleanup projects and subsequently the goal of providing a clean environment for dolphins under the Dolphin Project will also receive a boost.
Prime Minister Modi also praised Nitish Kumar, the Prime Minister of Bihar, for providing support to farmers during the times of the coronavirus pandemic.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said the project will allow people involved in fish farming and animal husbandry to help bring variety and new technologies to the sector. He said the measures taken by the government will further India’s goal of becoming self-sufficient.
The prime minister said that farmers played a critical role in supplying the nation with food during the lockdown phase and when the coronavirus spread.
Highlighting the success of the PM KISAN scheme in the state, the prime minister said that Bihar’s 75 lakh farmers have received more than Rs 6 billion due to the scheme.
The project in Bihar foresees an investment of Rs 1,390 crore with the central participation of Rs 535 crore and the additional fish production target set at three lakh tonnes. During the current prosecution, the Union government has sanctioned the Bihar proposal which costs Rs 107 crore.
Currently, there is no digital platform available in the country for farmers who manage livestock, including the purchase and sale of disease-free germplasm in all its forms, the availability of quality breeding services, and the guidance of farmers to animal nutrition, treatment of animals with appropriate drugs.
There is no mechanism to send alerts on the expiration date for vaccination, pregnancy diagnosis and delivery, among other issues, and inform farmers about various schemes and government campaigns in the area.
The e-Gopala application will provide solutions to farmers in all these aspects.
PMMSY aims to improve fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonnes by 2024-25, increase export earnings from fishing to Rs 100,000 crore by 2024-25, double the income of fishers and fish farmers, reducing subsequent losses to the capture of 20-25 percent to about 10 percent and generation of an additional 55 lakhs of direct and indirect paid employment opportunities in the fishing sector and related activities.
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