Excelsior Correspondent
TANGMARG (BARAMULLA), Mar 3: Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, during his visit to Baramulla for Public Outreach programme has made operational the Aquarium cum Awareness centre established at Trout Fish Farm Tangmarg for the upcoming summer season.
He inspected the Trout Rearing Unit Tangmarg and reviewed various Fisheries development schemes and activities being implemented in the district. He also had an exclusive interactive session with farmers.
He distributed fishing material among 39 beneficiaries including 14 women covered under beneficiary oriented schemes of PMMSY.
On the occasion, Union Minister instructed the officers to prepare estimates and submit DPR for upgradation of Fish Farm Bella, Baramulla, which was damaged during the floods of 2014.
Earlier, Union Minister distributed sanction orders amounting Rs. 193.1 lakh in favour of 28 beneficiaries of Baramulla under various components of PMMSY/UT CAPEX scheme
Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla was also present during the function.
Union Minister was briefed that fish production in J&K has reached 25.40 thousand tons. The UT has the monopoly of Trout culture and the Trout Production here has reached to 1663 tons. During the year 2021-22, the department has produced 148 lakh of Trout seed and 14 lakh Trout seed was exported to other cold water states of the country.
Union Minister was told that the department is going to implement a project in Fisheries sector with a total cost of Rs. 232.85 crore during the next five years under Holistic Development of Agriculture plan (HADP) with an aim to double the fish production in the UT. Apart from increasing fish production and productivity, the project envisages creation of direct and indirect employment for about 2.50 lakh youth of UT.
Parshottam Rupala emphasized the need of adopting fish farming activity as it can contribute significantly in increasing the farmers’ income in J&K.
While describing the importance of Kashmir region as an epicenter for development of cold water fisheries, Union Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, various steps are being taken up by the Central Government for enhancing the productivity as well income of the fishers and special subsidy component has been kept for the Cold water states/UTs to attract more farmers for adopting this profitable venture.
Union Minister said that farmers would be made more resourceful through implementation of various schemes for marketing of Trout and also for its export to other states to get remunerative prices for their produce.
Mohammad Farooq Dar, Director Fisheries, Purnima Mittal, Director Animal Husbandry, Kashmir and other senior officers of the department were present on the occasion.
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