India rank third in the world in terms of fish production
October 21, 2022
In terms of fish production union, India ranks third in the world. Dr. L Murugan, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, recently stated that India ranks third in the world in terms of fish production. After China, India is the world's third largest fish producer and second largest aquaculture nation.
Minister's Remarks:
According to him, India ranks third in the world in terms of fish production. In relation to Karnataka, the Union Minister stated that 734.77 crore rupees have been allocated to the state under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) flagship scheme from 2020-21 to date for the development of infrastructure facilities.
PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana):
The vision is to bring about a Blue Revolution by developing the fisheries sector in a sustainable and responsible manner.
In the fisheries sector, PMMSY's main motto is "Reform, Perform, and Transform."
The implementing agency is the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.
The PMMSY is an umbrella scheme comprised of two distinct components: the Central Sector Scheme and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) Component is further subdivided into beneficiary and non-beneficiary oriented sub-components/activities.
The Importance of the Fisheries Sector in General:
In the developing world, inland fisheries employ between 30 million and 60 million people, with women accounting for roughly half of the workforce.
Approximately 65% of inland fish caught come from low-income food deficit countries.
Fish provides more than 25% of the world's dietary protein.
Fisheries are important to India because it is the world's second largest producer of fish through aquaculture.
India is the world's fourth largest fish exporter, accounting for 7.7% of global fish production.
In 2017-18, fish accounted for approximately 10% of total Indian exports and nearly 20% of agricultural exports.
Fisheries and aquaculture production contribute approximately 1% of India's GDP and more than 5% of agricultural GDP.
In India, the fisheries sector employs approximately 28 million people.
The sector has enormous potential to more than double the incomes of fishermen and fish farmers, as the government envisions.
Challenges for the Fisheries Sector:
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly 90% of the world's marine fish stocks have been fully exploited, overfished, or depleted to the point where recovery may not be biologically possible.
Discharge of hazardous substances such as plastics and other waste into bodies of water, which has disastrous consequences for aquatic life.
Climate change.
Efforts by the Indian Government to Improve Fisheries: Establishment of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) in 2018-19.
Yojana Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada:
The programme aims to produce 22 million tonnes of fish by 2024-25. It is also expected to provide employment for 55 lakh people.
Blue Revolution: Creates an enabling environment for integrated and holistic fisheries development and management for the socioeconomic development of fishers and fish farmers.
Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facilities are being extended to fishers and fish farmers to assist them in meeting their working capital needs.
