Minister for Fisheries J. Mercykutty Amma has said that the government is targeting a three-fold increase in domestic fish production.
“The government has been implementing innovative projects to expand fish production. Projects worth ₹9.5 crore have been implemented in inland fisheries sector.
The four hatcheries in the district could produce 2,50,000 freshwater fish seeds and 43,50,000 shrimp seeds. Kulathupuzha and Kanatharkulam hatcheries have already received ₹4.9 crore and ₹9.5 crore has been sanctioned for the second phase,” she said.
The Minister was inaugurating the distribution of financial aid to fish farmers who suffered huge damages during the floods. Various freshwater farming projects implemented by the government with 40% subsidy had yielded 3766 ton fish so far, she added.
As part of projects launched by the Fisheries department, all unused waterbodies in the district were being revived to promote fish farming. “Muttathoru Meenthottam, open water ranching and cage farming will be extended to maximum area. 700 cage farming units have been sanctioned for the district,” she said.
Inland farming
Implemented in association with Agency for Development of Aquaculture, Kerala (ADAK) Muttathoru Meenthottam is a project recently launched by the department to promote inland fish farming.
As part of the project farmers are provided with quality seeds and basic training in aquaculture.
Fish farmers in the district had incurred huge losses in the floods and the Minister said a financial assistance of ₹11.7 lakh had been sanctioned for the 177 farmers who suffered damages. 68 others who lost the entire crop would receive ₹39.3 lakh as part of the revival package.
M. Mukesh MLA presided over the function and Munroe Thuruthu grama panchayat president Binu Karunakaran and Fisheries Deputy Director H. Salim also spoke on the occasion.