Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, along with Minister of State, Dr. L. Murugan, is set to inaugurate the much-anticipated Sagar Parikrama Phase-IX on October 7th, 2023, in Thondi, Ramnad District of Tamil Nadu. This initiative aims to bolster the fishing communities and promote government schemes across the coastal regions.
The launch event will be attended by both Union Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries, who will participate in a series of events spanning eight coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Viluppuram, Chengalpattu, and Chennai, as well as Karaikal and Puducherry.
During the course of Sagar Parikrama Phase-IX, Parshottam Rupala and Dr. L. Murugan will engage with local fishermen and distribute certificates and sanctions related to essential government schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Kisan Credit Card (KCC), and State Schemes.
The Union Ministers will also conduct a comprehensive review of the progress in implementing schemes related to Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying during their journey. In addition to Thondi, key stage functions are scheduled at Nagapattinam Fishing Harbour on October 7th, Poompuhar Fishing Harbour, and Cuddalore Fishing Harbour on October 8th, 2023. Throughout the Parikrama, informational materials about PMMSY, State schemes, e-shram, FIDF, and KCC will be widely disseminated to enhance awareness and maximize the benefits of these schemes.
Sagar Parikrama is an ambitious outreach program designed to connect with the fishing communities along India's vast coastal belt. The initiative seeks to gain insights into the challenges, experiences, and aspirations of fishermen while promoting awareness of government programs available to coastal residents.
Officials from the Fisheries Department of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, district officials, senior officials from the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, the National Fisheries Development Board, Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India, National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training, and Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical & Engineering Training will also participate in this initiative.
Various stakeholders, including fishers, fishermen representatives, fish-farmers, entrepreneurs, fishermen cooperative society leaders, professionals, scientists, and more, will actively participate in events and interactions during the Sagar Parikrama journey from Thondi, Ramnad District of Tamil Nadu, to Chennai, passing through several districts, including Puducherry.
Puducherry, a Union Territory, boasts 1400 hectares of inland water areas in the form of ponds and tanks suitable for both capture and culture fishery. Furthermore, it possesses 800 hectares of brackish water areas suitable for Brackish Water Prawn culture.
Tamil Nadu, with its 1,076-kilometer-long coastline (the second-largest in the country), is blessed with marine, brackish water, and inland fisheries resources suitable for both capture and culture fisheries. In the year 2021-22, the state's marine fish production reached 5.95 lakh metric tonnes, with exports valued at Rs. 6,559.64 crores. The fisheries sector supports the livelihood of 10.48 lakh marine fishers through 5,830 mechanized and 45,685 traditional fishing crafts, along with 4,41,977 marine fisher folks enrolled in the Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Board.
The rich fisheries biodiversity of Tamil Nadu provides livelihood opportunities to over a million people directly and in ancillary activities. In 2021-22, the sector contributed 5.78% to the state's agricultural GDP and generated valuable foreign exchange earnings. This underscores the significance of the fishery sector for the state and its contribution to national food security.
This initiative reflects the government's commitment to address the challenges faced by fishing communities and promote their economic upliftment through various fisheries schemes and programs, such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Kisan Credit Card (KCC). It also emphasizes responsible fisheries management and the protection of marine ecosystems.
