Assam imports fish from other states like Andhra Pradesh despite having huge potential for fish farming, Parliament was informed today. The state imported 14,835 tonnes in 2015-16, higher than 12,531 tonnes in the year-ago period. “Assam imports fish from other states though the state has huge potential for fish farming in water resources such as ponds, tanks, beel, oxbow lake, swamps, low lying (areas) and reservoirs,” Minister of State for Agriculture Sudarshan Bhagat said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. During the last three years, Assam has imported fish, mainly from Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, he said. To a query whether the Centre has formulated any special scheme to promote fish farming in the state, Bhagat said the the Centre has restructured the existing schemes under the umbrella of central plan scheme called ‘Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries’. The scheme focuses mainly on increasing fisheries production and productivity from aquaculture and fisheries resources. Besides, the state government is implementing schemes for development of fisheries, he added. To promote fishery sector, the minister said the Centre is providing financial assistance to coastal states for setting up of fishing harbours based on the techno-economic feasibility reports. Many states namely Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have shown interest, he said replying to a separate query. That apart, the central share for fishermen under the saving-cum-relief scheme has been enhanced to Rs 1,500 per fisherman, from Rs 900, effective this financial year.
2015 Business Standard Private Ltd