The state government has planned to develop fisheries sector of the tribal-dominated and Maoist affected Malkangiri district to generate employment and increase income of the people. It will be done in a project mode under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), official sources said. Main objective of this RKVY approved project is to ensure supply of quality fish seed for the fish growers through up-gradation of government fish farm at Malkangiri and Kalimela. The government will also establish two new fish seed hatcheries in private sector, utilize unused captive nurseries for fingerling culture and supply net and boat to the fishermen for harvesting of fish from reservoirs. Besides, the fisheries and animal resources development (FARD) department will provide soil and water testing kits to the extension functionaries for adopting better management practices by the fish farmers of the district by increasing the fish productivity from the existing water resources. FARD secretary Bishnupada Sethi said the project will be implemented during the year 2016-17 in all the blocks of the district. “We expect production of 40 metric tonne of fish annually in the district. Besides, fund available from other sources, an additional Rs 1.46 crore will be provided under the RKVY,” said Sethi. Malkangiri district has vast water area of 20,000 ha in the form of tanks, ponds and open bodies like reservoirs, minor irrigation projects, rivers and canals. The third biggest reservoir of the state, Balimela Reservoir, is in the district having a mean water spread area of 16,868 ha. It covers Kudumulugumma, Korukonda blocks and borders of Khamam district of Andhra Pradesh. Recently, a group of government officials including additional chief secretary UN Behera, water resources secretary Pradeep Jena and FARD secretary Sethi had visited the district and discussed about development of this sector for economic development of people.
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