Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh felicitated a fish farmer of Kalahandi district, laxminarayan Panda, for successfully taking up fish farming in a big way and inspiring others to undertake the farming as a lucrative mode of living.
Singh presented a trophy and a citation to Panda at the ICAR complex in New Delhi on the World Fisheries Day on Saturday.
Fisheries Director P Krishna Mohan who was present there sadi, “It is a great achievement for fisheries sector and fishermen of Odisha.”
Notably, the State has formulated a Fisheries Policy which aims to increase fish production from inland, brackish and marine sources.
The policy targets increase fish production to 7.15 lakh tonne per annum by the end of 2019-20 from present 4.13 lakh tonne production, said Mohan.
Panda undertook fish farming after suffering huge losses in paddy cultivation due to scanty rainfall and other reasons. He was encouraged and provided supports to adopt fish farming by Fisheries officials, informed Mohan.
He initially took up pisciculture in a scientific way in five hectares of land and expanded his farming to 22 acres as he made profits. Upbeat by the success, Panda established a Mini Circular Hatchery and started producing fish seed in order to cater to the need of other fish farmers in Kalahandi and other neighboring districts.
During 2014-15, he produced 100 quintals of yearling fish, and this year he has planned to increase the output to 250 quintals.