Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, has inaugurated the Matsya Sampada Jagrukta Abhiyan program on the occasion of the successful completion of three years of the Pradhan Mantri Matasya Sampada Yojna (PMMSY) implementation.
The event, organized by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, took place at the Brilliant Convention Center in Indore. The ceremony was graced by Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, and Dr. L. Murugan.
The Matsya Sampada Jagrukta Abhiyan, aimed at enhancing outreach and ensuring "last-mile connectivity," will run for six months from September 2023 to February 2024. During this period, a total of 108 events will be organized across India. The primary objectives of this campaign are to disseminate information and knowledge about the achievements of the Government of India over the past nine years, showcase the success stories of beneficiaries, and reach out to 2.8 crore fish farmers and 3477 coastal villages.
The Union Minister also launched various key projects that have been initiated across India under the PMMSY. These 239 projects, with a total investment of Rs 103.11 crore, are spread across 15 states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The projects encompass a wide range of activities, from trout culture and pearl culture to cold storage and biofloc systems, benefiting numerous individuals.
The beneficiaries of these projects had the opportunity to interact with Rupala and other dignitaries during the event, expressing their gratitude for the positive impact these initiatives have had on their lives. The projects have not only increased income but have also generated employment opportunities, empowered women, and boosted self-confidence among the beneficiaries.
Rupala announced the approval of a new aquapark in Bhopal, with an investment of Rs 25 crore. This facility will include a research center, processing facility, aqua tourism amenities, and ornamental fisheries facilities. He emphasized the importance of shrimp farming and highlighted the recent amendment to the Coastal Aquaculture Act (CAA) under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The event also witnessed the distribution of Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to beneficiaries. Dr. Sanjeev K Balyan emphasized the increasing significance of the fisheries sector, as reflected in the sectoral budget's growth from Rs 300 crore to over Rs 38 thousand crore since 2014. He highlighted the progress made in the Northeastern region and expressed hope for further growth in shrimp farming through the conversion of wastelands into productive areas.
Additionally, Parshottam Rupala and other dignitaries launched a booklet showcasing the nine years of progress in the Indian fisheries sector. It highlighted key achievements under schemes like BR, FIDF, PMMSY, and initiatives such as Sagar Parikrama.
The event also featured an exhibition with stalls representing fisheries start-ups, colleges, universities, FFPOs (Fisheries Federations of Primary Producers Organizations), fisheries cooperatives, and fisheries institutes. These stalls showcased various products, including nets, feeds, and value-added products. Additionally, activities of organizations like Fishery Survey of India, National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training (NIFPHATT), Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical & Engineering Training (CIFNET), and others were presented.
Prominent figures from the government, including Tulsi Ram Silawat, Chairman of Matsya Kalyan Board, Madhya Pradesh, Sitaram Batham, Minister of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Dairy Development Fisheries, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Tage Taki, Member of Parliament, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Shankar Lalwani, and other senior officials were also present during the occasion.
In his address, Tulsi Ram Silawat expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the event and emphasized the importance of the development of the fishermen community. He highlighted the progress made by Madhya Pradesh during the three years of PMMSY implementation. Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi welcomed all the dignitaries and participants and highlighted the achievements of the fisheries sector in fish production, exports, and shrimp production. He emphasized the promotion of activities like seaweed farming, ornamental fisheries, pearl culture, and strengthening of research and development for quality seed availability.
Sagar Mehra thanked Union Minister Parshottam Rupala and Minister of States for their guidance and support in the fisheries sector. He highlighted the achievements and progress made in the sector due to various government initiatives and schemes. The event saw participation from 35 States/UTs, 239 project beneficiaries, fisheries co-operatives, Sagar Mitras, ICAR institutes, state fisheries institutes and universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, States/UTs officials, DoF (GoI), NFDB officials, and approximately 75,000 participants, including 1000 physically present attendees. The event also reached an additional 3 lakh people through digital and outdoor media campaigns.
Several beneficiaries shared their success stories during the event, highlighting the positive impact on their livelihoods. These stories included impressive transformations in income and innovative ventures such as aquaculture, pearl farming, and seaweed cultivation, demonstrating the significant benefits of the PMMSY and related schemes.
