Modi launches Matsya Sampada Yojana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Rs 20,050 crore Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in 21 states, that will help double fisheries exports, create more employment opportunities and boost income of farmers.

The PMMSY will ensure new infrastructure, modern equipment and access to new markets to fish producers and improve avenues for increasing income apart from farming. It will be implemented from 2020-21 to 2024-25 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package. 

Fisheries sector in India

Fisheries and aquaculture are an important source of food, nutrition, employment and income in India. The sector provides livelihood to more than 20 million fishermen and fish farmers at the primary level and twice the number along the value chain. 

Fish being an affordable and rich source of animal protein, is one of the healthiest options to mitigate hunger and malnutrition.

The fisheries sector has recorded an average annual growth rate of 10.88 per cent during the year from 2014-15 to 2018-19. The fish production in India has registered an average annual growth of 7.53 per cent during the last five years and stood at an all-time high of 137.58 lakh metric tons during 2018-19. The export of marine products stood at 13.93 lakh metric tons and valued at Rs 46,589 crore during 2018-19.

According to the ministry, India is the fourth largest fish exporting nation in the world.

The sector has immense potential to double the fishers and fish farmers’ incomes as envisioned by the government and usher in economic prosperity.

Foreseeing the immense potential for development of fisheries and for providing focused attention to the sector, the government in its Union Budget 2019-20 announced the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

Objectives of PMMSY:

* To create direct employment opportunities to 15 lakh people in the sector. 

* Double income of fish farmers and workers by 2024. 

* Address the critical gaps in the fisheries sector. 

* Increase fish production to 22 million tonnes by 2024-25 through sustainable and responsible fishing practices.

* Creation of critical infrastructure including modernisation and strengthening of value chain.

* Social, physical and economic security for fishers and fish workers.

* Give a boost to investments in the fisheries sector and increase the competitiveness of fish and fisheries products.

How will the scheme be implemented?

The PMMSY will be implemented as an umbrella scheme with two separate components namely central sector scheme and centrally sponsored scheme.

It would focus on all round development of the fisheries sector through a bunch of diverse interventions along the fisheries value chain right from production to consumption.

Majority of the activities under the scheme would be implemented with active participation of states/UTs. A well-structured implementation framework would be established for effective planning and implementation of PMMSY. This includes creation of state programme units in all states/UTs & district programme Units and sub-district programme units.

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