New Delhi: The state government Saturday received two awards for the growth in fisheries sector on the occasion of the World Fisheries Day in a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying here.
The state has received the “Best Marine State” award and Kalahandi district received the “best district award” in inland fisheries sector. The awards were given by the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Giriraj Singh in the presence of Minister of State Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Sanjeev Kumar Balyan along with other officials.
According to the ministry, the ‘Best Marine State’ award carries a financial incentive of Rs10 lakh while the ‘Best Inland District’ award for Kalahandi district carries a financial incentive of Rs3 lakh.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stated that Odisha is committed to be a pioneer state in fish production to ensure food security and boost livelihood. He congratulated the fisheries & animal resources development department and Kalahandi district administration for receiving the awards.
The fisheries and animal resources department said the fisheries & aquaculture sector in the state grew at an impressive rate of 18.98 per cent and produced around 8.16 lakh metric tonnes of fish during 2019-20. The average annual growth rate of the fish production in the state over last five years is over 14 per cent. As per the NSSO reports, the share of farmer’s income in Odisha from allied sector activities including livestock and fisheries has significantly increased over last two decades from than 1.5 per cent to 26 per cent.
It has been further said that the seafood exports from the state has increased by 78 per cent in last five years from Rs1,817 crore during 2014-15 to Rs 3,243 crore during 2019-20. Currently, the state exports over 66,000 tonnes of sea food, majority of which is frozen shrimp.
The state government has taken up massive programmes to boost the fish fingerling production in the state. Four mega fish spawning centres are being set up in the state at Kausalyaganga, Saramanga, Chiplima and Bhanjanagar which will produce continuous and year round fish spawn.
Private fish seed growers and hatchery operators will be supported for quality fish seed production through fish hatchery accreditation and seed certification.