Balasore awarded best marine district of India

BHUBANESWAR: Balasore was awarded as the best marine district in the country. For the first time, a district from Odisha got this award.
Union minister for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying Parshottam Rupala gave away this award at the World Fisheries Day celebration here on Sunday.
Andhra Pradesh was awarded the best marine state, while Best Inland State Award was given to Telangana. Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh received the Best Inland district award and best hilly and Northeastern state and district awards were taken away by Tripura and Bongaigaon, Assam respectively.
Rupala in his speech said the centre is providing all necessary support to achieve the one lakh crore export target from fisheries sector by 2024-25. There is a need to come up with environment friendly fishing along with taking steps to sustain the sector while continuing the consumption, he added.
He said the centre has already extended the support of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the fishermen and women. It will soon start a massive campaign to raise greater awareness on KCC, he added.
Minister of state for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying L Murugan said the government is putting emphasis on seaweed farming. “We are also focusing on empowering fisherwomen and promoting entrepreneurship in the sector,” he added.
The ministers visited the exhibition stalls put up by the farmers and entrepreneurs at the venue. Various posters, jingles on the fisheries sector were also released during the event. Senior officials of the state and the centre attended the event.
Paradip is among the five major ports in India being developed as major fishing harbours. Odisha had received best marine state last year. Even Kalahandi district had received the best inland district award last year.