The 'Sagar Parikrama' Phase III Program was unveiled on February 19th, 2023, by Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, and will begin in Surat, Gujarat, and will travel along the Maharashtra coast, arriving in Satpati on February 20th, 2023, and ending on February 21st, 2023, at Sasson Dock in Mumbai.
Parshottam Rupala stated that the fishermen have shown a keen interest in highlighting their issues/problems, which have been addressed. He was also pleased that our leadership fought for fishermen subsidies at the international level, which will help in the long run to bring economic development and empowerment.
He mentioned KCC, which is being given free collateral for 1.6 lac, where fishermen can get bank loans. As with agriculture farmers, fish farmers can take out loans at the same rate of interest with varying degrees of subsidy as long as they repay the loan in a timely manner. Other leaders encouraged people to come forward and take advantage of the KCC in order to better their own lives.
Parshottam Rupala also stated that because he was aware of the problem of unsustainable fish catching, he advised fishermen to implement methods such as fish ranching and sea ranching, so that we can increase growth, production, and fishermen can have a good value of catching fishes.
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, held a campaign to promote KCC in Maharashtra and Gujarat on the 16th and 17th of February 2023. On February 16, 2023, a team of officers from the Department of Fisheries met for a camp meeting in Vasai. Fishers and fish farmers were informed about the KCC for fisheries, registration, and benefits.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made Rs. 20,000 crore available for the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. Fishermen will also be eligible for a 7% loan under the Kisan Credit Card scheme," Rupala stated.
