Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav today directed that the officials should speed up fish dropping program and encourage “Cage Culture” and set up fish outlets in the districts.
He conducted a review meeting on second phase of fish seed dropping program with the officials at Secretariat here and instructed that about 100 fish outlets should be set up to sell fish food items on the tourist spots along the national highways and elsewhere in the state. For 2017-18 against the target of dropping 68.32 cr fish seeds in 24,831 lakes, reservoirs and water bodies in the state only 29.52 cr fish seeds were dropped in 6,537 lakes so far.
With effective coordination with fish suppliers the officials should complete the target by November end he said adding that only 11,605 lakes and water bodies got waters which need 44.17 cr fish seeds need. Except Adilabad, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Wanaparty, Kamareddy, Komaram Bheem, Asifabad and Nirmal districts, 50 per cent of fish seed dropping was completed in other districts and officials should make frequent visits to speed up the activity. The minister said that only 100 units of Cage Culture were set up another 150 by Oct end out of 670 units target. He asked for creating awareness among the fishermen on the cage culture to get better benefits. The government gives 80 per cent subsidy and the rest of 20 per cent to be borne by the fishermen as share for cage culture. Of 20 per cent district collectors should provide 10 per cent from their crucial balancing funds.
Directing for focusing on marketing facility to empower the fishermen the minister asked to speed up the process to set up 49 fish markets in the districts. Only one such market was ready while nine others are under construction and tenders called for 7 markets and revenue officials were asked to allot land for the 32 markets. Subsidy vehicles for fish sell will help and fish stalls be set up at noted places, tourist points and densely populated areas by coordinating with fishermen cooperative societies which should offer membership to all eligible persons with 18 years of age. The government is spending crores of funds to empower fishermen and fishermen cooperative societies should be expanded to all other districts. (NSS)