ITANAGAR, Jul 21: National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) Chief Executive Ismal Rani Kumudini urged the Northeast states to increase production and productivity of table fish and fish seed at par with the national average, and to ensure its sustainability.
“The Northeast region is the focal point of all stakeholders as it is a large and ever expanding market for aquaculture produce, since a majority of its population prefers fish in their daily cuisine,” Kumudini said.
Speaking at the regional review meeting of the fisheries department from all Northeastern states which are implementing centrally-sponsored schemes, on 20 July, she advised the states to come up with innovative schemes to help farmers economically and achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.
Assuring full support from the NFBD, she urged the participating states to strengthen the NFDB’s regional office in Guwahati with professionals from the states’ fisheries department for better coordination “and to understand the problems being faced by the states and prompt redressal at appropriate level.”
State Fisheries Secretary Geyum Padu highlighted the problems being faced by the department, especially fund constraints, and sought support from the NFDB for generous funding of various schemes.
He assured judicious utilization of funds, “solely for all-inclusive growth of this sector to achieve in real terms the aim of the Blue Revolution, and for the economic benefit and welfare of fish farmers of the state.”
During the technical session, the physical and financial status of UC’s, implementation of PFMS/DBT, and the status of proposal for the CFY 2018-19 of all the states availing central assistance was reviewed.
The current status of fish and fish seed production up to first quarter of the Northeastern region was also taken up with the progress in adoption of Mera Matsya Dhan (MMD) portal for online submission of proposals.
Each state presented its performance and updated the status of activities under the Blue Revolution and NFDB.
Among others, Fisheries Director Joyshil Taba, officials from the fisheries directorate, and district fisheries development officers of all the districts of the state attended the review meeting.
Later in the day, the attending members made a field visit to the private fish farm of Tana Akin Tara and Tana Hari of Midpu and Emchi, respectively.
The NFDB chief executive interacted extensively with the farmers of Papum Pare district, took note of their grievances, and assured to look into them. They also visited the government fish seed farm in Emchi and inspected the infrastructure.
A short documentary film ‘Meen Arunachal’, prepared by the department with the National Film Development Corporation, depicting various activities of the department, was also unveiled by Fisheries Minister Dr Mohesh Chai and the NFDB chief executive.
The team of officers from the NFDB departed for Lower Subansiri HQ Ziro to witness the activities of the renowned paddy-cum-fish culture of the Apatani plateau and other aquaculture developmental activities in the district undertaken by the department.
