The State Government on Wednesday decided to provide road and power connectivity to fishing firms in order to boost up fish production and export in the State.
Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra while reviewing the status of fish farming sector at the Secretariat asked the concerned departments to provide the infrastructural facilities to 125 identified fishing clusters.
It was revealed at the meeting that the State has the potential to be number one in shrimp production and export in the country. The State has fresh water area of 6.73 lakh hectares and brackish water area of 4.18 lakh hectares along coast. With this, the State can produce 6.5 lakh metric tonne fish per year. While 12 lakh people accounting for 2.95 per cent State’s population are dependent on fishing, the sector’s contribution to GSDP is around 6 per cent.
The State registered 25.91 per cent increase in shrimp production in 2012-13. The total shrimp production increasing to 1,68,585 metric tonne in 2012-13 from the preceding year’s 133,893 MT. Similarly, the vennamei shrimp production in Odisha increased to 91,610 metric tonne in 2012-13 from 48,430 MT in 2011-12, thus, recoding a growth of 89.16.
Energy Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena who attended the meeting said the special feeders will be provided to the fishing clusters at an investment of Rs250 crore during 12th plan period.
Among others, Finance Secretary UN Behera, Water Resources Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Agriculture Secretary Rajesh Kumar Verma, MSME Secretary Panchanana Das, GRIDCO CMD Hemant Kumar Sharma, Fisheries, Animal Resource Development Secretary Bishnupada Sethy and representatives of Sea Food Exporters Association participated in the discussion.