Blue Revolution scheme aims at doubling the farmer’s income

By editor smartagri - November 26, 2018 0

New Delhi:Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that Blue Revolution mission aims at doubling the income of farmers and under this scheme, 29,128 hectares has been developed for aquaculture and fishermen are being benefitted. In the last four and half years, Rs 1915.33 crore has been released for the implementation of Blue Revolution schemes. He said it while addressing the inaugural session of Fifth World Fisheries day on 21^st November in Patna.

He further added that the fund would create employment opportunities for over 9.40 lakh fishermen and other entrepreneurs in fishing and allied activities and attract private investment in creation and management of fisheries infrastructure facilities.

Singh also informed that the government has approved a sum of Rs. 7522 crore for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). So far 7,441 traditional boats have been modernized and converted into motorized boats.

Highlighting the potential of FIDF, he said that it would help in the creation of fisheries infrastructure facilities both in marine and inland fisheries sectors, which would boast fish production and help achieve target of Rs. 15 million tonnes by 2020 set under Blue revolution.

Besides, the FIDF aims at achieving sustainable growth of 8 to 9 percent in a move to augment fish production to the level of about 20 million tonnes by 2022-23.

Sharing the development details of the fisheries sector, he said that the present government released Rs. 64.32 crore during 2014-15 to 2018-19 as compared to Rs. 4.95 crore given during 2009-10 to 2013-14.

Apart from this, as part of Prime Minister special package to Bihar, the fisheries sector was sanctioned Rs 279.55 crore under which the first installment of Centre’s share of Rs. 40.79 crore has been released.

World Fisheries Day is being celebrated to commemorate the event of meeting of the working fishermen and women representing ‘World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers’ from 18 countries in New Delhi on November 21, 1997. ‘World Fisheries Forum (WFF)’ was established to advocate a global mandate of sustainable fishing practices and policies.