Odisha Registered Over 19% Growth In Fisheries Sector In 2019-20 Fiscal, Says CM

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched 15 online services of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development department under 5T initiatives.

Speaking on the occasion, Naveen said the online applications will provide a number of useful services to fishers and farmers including registration of fishing boats and licenses, registration of brackish water farms and avail subsidy for setting up new livestock and fishery units.

The government, under its 5T commitment, had brought out a new policy in March 2020, to promote cage culture fishery in large and medium reservoirs.

The chief minister further said the government signed agreements with many entrepreneurs for taking up cage culture in Hirakud reservoir on the occasion. “Cage culture can increase the annual fish production of the state by over 1.24 lakh ton, achieving self-sufficiency in meeting the demand. It will also promote entrepreneurship and create job opportunities, he said.

The state government provides financial assistance upto Rs 50 lakh for various commercial agri-enterprises, including cage culture fisheries.

“I call upon the farmers and the youths to contribute to the state’s economic growth as agri-entrepreneurs. My government has identified the allied sectors as the growth propellers for the farmers, women SHGs and entrepreneurs and thus doubled the allocation to the allied sectors during 2020-21,” the chief minister said.

Stating that the growth in the fisheries and livestock sectors during 2019-20 was over 19%, he said the government has also launched a special COVID package to the tune of Rs 173 crore to boost the allied sectors which will directly benefit over 44,000 farmers.