July 30, 2018
Bengal on the path to self-reliance in fish production
The State Government is taking all possible measures to become self-reliant in fish production in the next few years, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the State Assembly on July 26. She gave a comprehensive statement on the projects and activities that the Fisheries Department has taken up.
Already the fish deficit has been brought down drastically through various projects all over the State. Not just that, fishes with export potential are also being farmed in increasing numbers, especially salt or brackish-water fishes in the coastal districts.
In Bengal, the demand for fish is 18.84 lakh metric tonnes per year and the production is 17.42 lakh metric tonnes. The present and future planned schemes would soon be able to make up this deficit and on top of that, produce enough to export to other States. Around 1.5 lakh metric tonnes are exported outside India every year.
Around 700 agricultural ponds have been identified for fish cultivation and fish rearing has been taken up in 75,000 of the ponds renovated under the ‘Jal Dharo Jal Bharo’ scheme.
Hatchlings have been distributed in many places. The Chief Minister also mentioned that the Fisheries and Tourism Departments have joined hands to develop the concept of fish tourism. Fish tourism has already been started at Nalban in Kolkata and Henry’s Island near Bakkhali in South 24 Parganas.
The Chief Minister also said that people in Bengal have a special liking for small fishes like mourola, puti, bata, etc. However, these tasty fishes are hardly consumed by people in other States. Now efforts are being made to give people across the country a taste of Bengal. Not just exporting to other States, the Government, through the State Fisheries Development Corporation, is opening restaurants in various places and participating in food fairs.
It may be mentioned that the State Fisheries Department has adopted the Moyna Model in nine districts where river water is being channelised to ponds for fish cultivation at a brisk pace. The current plan is have 15 districts adopt the Moyna Model by this year.
Source: Millennium Post
