Union Minister visits Trout Rearing unit, Tangmarg
Development of Fisheries in J&K reflects the pro-farmer approach of UT Government: Parshottam Rupala
TANGMARG (BARAMULLA), March 3: Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala during his visit to District Baramulla for Public Outreach programme has made operational the Aquarium cum Awareness centre established at Trout Fish Farm Tangmarg for the upcoming summer season.
Mohammad Farooq Dar, Director Fisheries, Purnima Mittal, Director Animal Husbandry, Kashmir and other senior officers of the Department were present on the occasion.
The Minster inspected the Trout Rearing Unit Tangmarg and reviewed various Fisheries development schemes/activities being implemented in the District. The visiting Minister also holds the farmer interactive session and distributed the fishing material/ inputs among 39 beneficiaries including 14 women covered under beneficiary oriented schemes of PMMSY. On the occasion, the Minister instructed to prepare estimates and submit DPR for upgradation of Fish Farm Bella, Baramulla which was damaged during the floods of 2014.
Earlier, the Minister also distributed the sanction orders amounting to Rs. 193.1 lakh in favour of the 28 beneficiaries selected in District Baramulla under various components of PMMSY/UT CAPEX Scheme viz. Establishment of 19 raceway units, establishment of one Large and one Small RAS, 01 Biofloc fish culture unit and 6 Carp ponds wherein the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla was also present during the function.
The Director Fisheries briefed the Minister that fish production in J&K has reached 25.40 thousand tons. The UT has the monopoly of Trout culture and the Trout Production in the State has reached to 1663 tons. During the year 2021-22, the department has produced 148 lakh of Trout seed and 14 lac Trout seed is exported to other Cold water states of the country. For providing working capital to the fishers, the department has sanctioned 696 KCCs in Fisheries Sector. Keeping in view the success of Trout Culture in Private sector the department has kept Trout fish under One district One product scheme (ODOP) in District Anantnag and Baramulla. The Department also contemplates to register Trout Fish products for GI tagging to project UT in the world map as a hub of Trout production.
With an aim to double the fish production in the UT, the department is going implement a project in Fisheries sector with a total cost of Rs. 232.85 crores during the next five years under Holistic Development of Agriculture plan (HADP). Besides, increase in fish production and productivity, the project envisages creation of direct and employment generation for about 2.50 lac youth of UT. The major technological interventions under the project includes the introduction of modern Technology of fish culture viz RAS, Biofloc, establishment of feed mill, Hatcheries, Ice plant etc under private sector in a big way besides upgradation and strengthening of Departmental Fish farms to exploit their full potential. To improve the genetic vigour, growth rate and survival of Trout, the department is procuring 100 lac of genetically improved eyed of Rainbow and Brown Trout under HADP.
Parshottam Rupala emphasized the need of adopting the fish farming activity as it contributes significantly in increasing the farmers’ income. While describing the importance of Kashmir region as an epicenter for development of Cold water fisheries the Minister said the under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, various steps are being taken 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.
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. Appreciating the Department of Fisheries, he said that J&K is the leader in production of Trout and the successful implementation of various centrally/UT Sponsored schemes and proposed technological interventions under HADP clearly reflects the pro-farmer approach of the present UT Government.
