PMMSY intends to address the critical gaps in fish production and productivity & quality

NEW DELHI, Dec 7 (The CONNECT) - The cumulative number of beneficiaries covered during 2020-21 and current financial year under Pradhan Mantri Matsya SampadaYojana is 9,42,761, the government has said.

Of the total Rs 5,336.96 cr worth proposals approved during the last fiscal and current FY so far, Andhra Pradesh topped the list of beneficiaries with Rs 656 crores, followed by Uttar Pradesh (Rs532 cr), Maharashtra (Rs 396.87 cr), Karnakata (Rs 395.14 cr) and Gujarat (Rs 377.89 cr).

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)- with the objectives of bringing about sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India for a period of five years with effect from the financial year 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories(UTs).

Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Parshottam Rupala in the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that the scheme intends to address the critical gaps in fish production and productivity & quality, in the technology being used in post-harvest infrastructure and management, in modernisation and strengthening of value chain, and in establishing a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’ welfare.

The implementation of the PMMSY commenced during middle of 2020-21. Under PMMSY during 2020-21 to 2021-22 Department of Fisheries has approved project proposals to the tune of Rs. 5,336.96 crores with a central share of Rs. 1,823.5 crores to States/UTs and other implementing agencies. An amount of Rs. 1700 crore has been allocated during 2020-21 (RE) and 2021-22 (BE) under PMMSY. An amount of Rs. 1223.96 crore has been released to various States/UTs and other implementing agencies from 2020-21 to 2021-22 (till date).

PMMSY focuses on enhancing fish production and productivity by harnessing the unrealized potential of public ponds, reservoirs and such other water bodies in Inland fisheries sector, by developing aquaculture and mariculture through expansion, intensification, diversification & technological infusion such as cage culture, RAS & Biofloc, by making available quality inputs such as seed and feed through development of broodbanks, hatcheries & feed mills and by setting up a aquatic animal health management system. The scheme also aims to improve value addition through development of standards for sustainability and traceability in fisheries sector, through development of a robust post harvest infrastructure and management, modernization and strengthening of the marketing infrastructure, through enhancement of export competitiveness of fisheries products and through establishing a robust fisheries management and regulatory framework.

Besides, in order to address the infrastructure requirement for fisheries sector, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has created dedicated fund namely Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) during 2018-19 with a total funds size of Rs. 7522.48 crore. FIDF provides concessional finance to the Eligible Entities (EEs), including State Governments/Union Territories and State entities for development of identified fisheries infrastructure facilities through Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs) namely National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC) and All scheduled Banks.

Under the FIDF, the Department of Fisheries provides interest subvention up to 3% per annum on the loans availed by the eligible entities from the Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs) for the identified fisheries projects.