In a first-of-its-kind project in the country, Haryana Government has decided to set up a hi-tech and ultra-modern ornamental fish hatchery in district Jhajjar at a cost of Rs 13.68 crore.
At present, Haryana is at second position in the country with fish production of 7,200 per kilogram per hectare per year in the year 2016-17. The fish production is aimed to be increased to 10,000 per kilogram per hectare per year in 2017-18.
The State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Fisheries Minister, Om Prakash Dhankar, on Wednesday said the Government had also planned to develop about 16,000 acres of water-logged land in district Jhajjar and Charki Dadri for fish farming so as to generate a new source of income for the farmers.
He said farming of white shrimp (Safed Jhinga) would be done over 400 hectares additional unutilised saline land under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna Scheme during the year 2017-18. Under the scheme, shrimp rearers would be provided 50 per cent grant of the total unit cost and for this, the State Government has made a provision of Rs 5110 lakh. During the present State Government, Haryana has become the first land locked State where white shrimp farming is being done on saline land, said Dhankar.
The Minister said as many as 16 Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) unit would be set up in the State. Fish production of 40 tonnes per acre would be done by the fish-rearers at a cost of Rs 50 lakh per unit and on this, the Fisheries Department would provide a grant of 50 per cent.
Under the centrally sponsored ‘Blue Revolution Scheme’ implemented for digging new ponds and their improvement and development of water logged and saline land, the grant money has been increased to 60 per cent from 20 per cent, he said.
Dhankar said the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources has declared Haryana as a fish disease-free state.He said 18,975 hectares water area has been brought under fish farming in 2016-17 by increasing 16,921.69 hectares of water area in the year 2013-14.
Apart from this, the fish production has been increased from 105579.50 metric tonnes during year 2013-14 to 1,44,200 metric tonnes in the year 2016-17. As a result of this, increase of about 40 per cent has been registered in the number of fish rearers and their income, added the Minister.