Union Minister, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Ministry of Panchayati Raj Shri Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh,highlighted the achievements and challenges of the fisheries sector.
The Union Minister congratulated the fishermen and fish farmers for their role in making India the second-largest fish producer globally, with around 30 million people involved in fish production across the value chain.
He said that various initiatives by the department like the Blue Revolution and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah- Yojana (PMMKSY) has supported boosting fish production in the country. As a result, fish production nearly doubled since 2014 to 17.5 million tons, with inland fishing now surpassing marine fishing, contributing 13.2 million tons.
The Union Minister in his address highlighted the key challenges and solutions for the fisheries sector. He highlighted the issues like plastic pollution, carbon emissions from traditional fishing and water pollution, emphasizing the government’s efforts to reduce plastics,improve water quality and promote eco-friendly practices. Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh also discussed the unorganized nature of the sector and the infrastructural gaps, stressing upon the need for reforms and initiatives like the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
He outlined a vision for a sustainable and economically empowering fisheries sector, focusing on modern techniques, policy integration, and long-term goals to ensure India’s global leadership in fish production.
