Bhubaneswar: State Fishermen Co-operative Federation (FISHFED) Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to provide subsidised diesel for fishing trawlers and boats used by fishermen of coastal region.
Managing director of FISHFED SC Mohanty and IOCL’s chief divisional consumer sales manager Ashok Mishra signed the agreement at the Secretariat here in presence of fisheries and animal resources development minister Pradeep Maharathy.
As per the terms of the MoU, the fishermen will get 50 paise subsidy for every litre of diesel at outlets to be opened by IOCL at 13 fishing jetties – Chandrabhaga, Astarang, Balugaon, Bahabalpur, Kharinasi, Chudamani, Palur, Bhusandapur, Sonepur, Nairy, Talchua, Panchubisa and Sorana.
“As many as 70,000 fishermen will be benefitted by the initiative. Fishermen who used to buy diesel from outside and through illegal ways will now have an outlet nearby for procuring diesel for their trawlers,” said Maharathy.
The state has 73 fish landing centres with two major fishing harbours where 1,755 mechanised boats, 7,666 motorised boats and 9,507 traditional boats are in operation, he added.
“Last year our marine fish catch was 1.45 lakh tonne of which 60 per cent was exported to different states and countries. Providing subsidised diesel at the doorsteps of fishermen will lessen the problems and augment fish catch,” the minister added.
With a total production of 5.21 lakh tonne fish, the state ranks 9th in the country in fish production. Every year approximately `2,000 crore of fish and fisheries products are exported from the state. Around 1.14 lakh fishermen reside along the 480-km coastline of Orissa.
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