National Flagship Programmes for Fisheries

National Flagship Programmes for Fisheries

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April 21, 2023

Recently, three nationwide programmes were launched by The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying for the growth of the fisheries sector.

Under the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) Phase II:

• India’s fish production is 14.73 million metric tonnes and it also exports farmed shrimp of about 7 lakh tonnes.

• Yet, Rs. 7,200 Crores is lost annually due to fish diseases and hence, early detection and disease-control measures are crucial.

• NSPAAD was implemented by the government from 2013 with targeted focus on farmer-based disease control system.

• The aim is to make sure that cases of disease are immediately reported, examined and farmers get scientific help.

• The first phase results confirmed decreased revenue losses on account of diseases, exports and enhanced farmers income.

• To keep it going, Phase -II of NSPAAD was launched through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and will be implemented throughout India.

Under the Genetic Improvement Programme of Indian White Shrimp:

• About 70% of the country’s seafood consists of farmed shrimp and they generate exports worth Rs. 42,000 Crores.

• However, this farming depends entirely on a particular exotic, pathogen-free variety of Pacific white shrimp.

• Thus, it can be risky to fully rely on a single species for 10 lakh tonnes production.

• To curtail this dependence and to develop local species, the ‘Genetic Improvement Program of Indian White Shrimp – Phase-I’ was introduced under the ambit of Make in India.

• Under PMMSY, the program has been sanctioned Rs. 25 Crore to set up a National Genetic Improve Facility to facilitate shrimp breeding.

Under the Shrimp Crop Insurance Product:

• Shrimp farming is deemed as a risky business proposition so that insurance and banking institutions stay apprehensive.

• Most aquaculture farmers face massive hurdles in gathering investment and the loss of single crop may lead them to a debt trap.

• The business strength of annual shrimp crop is about Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,500 Crores with a yearly microcredit need of more than Rs.8, 000 to Rs. 10,000 Crores and at present it is provided by unofficial creditors at enhanced interest rates.

• Thus, a Shrimp Crop Insurance Product has been introduced that charges between 3.7 to 7.7% of the input costs.

• Thus, farmers can be compensated till 80% input cost loss in case of complete crop loss.

Source - Press Information Bureau at https://www.pib.gov.in › PressReleasePage