Faced with under-capacity utilisation, underemployment and low per capital earnings in the fishery sector, the State is all set to take the challenge of developing a long-term policy and strategy which could meet the domestic market demands, create income generating opportunities for the rural poor and enhance their food, nutritional and livelihood security.
Head of the Department of the Fishery & Animal Resource Development Bishnupada Sethi in consultation with other stakeholders has now prepared a Draft Odisha Fishery Policy, which is being examined by the other concerned departments, After incorporation of necessary suggestions, the draft would be moved to the Government for its approval.
The policy is considered to be highly necessary as Odisha is a major maritime State with a 480-km-long coastline and has about 80 per cent fish-eating population.
The present level of fish production in the State is about 79.8 per cent of the overall fisheries potential of 5,14,000 tonnes —1,61,000 tonnes from the marine sector and 3,53,000 tonnes from the fresh and brackish water sectors.
As per a conservative estimate, the State’s fish requirement is about 3,79,370 tonnes for meeting the nutritional requirements of the non-vegetarian population. The World Health Organisation puts the requirement of consumption at 11 kg per capita per annum. Odisha exports almost 28.4 per cent of the fish produced to other States and countries.
The State has 24,000 sqkm area for marine fisheries development and fresh water resources are estimated to be 6.75 lakh hectares of tanks and ponds, lakes, reservoirs, swaps and jheels and rivers and canals. This includes 0.79 lakh hectares of the Chilika lake.
The State’s fish production during the past five years has increased at a rate of about 14.8 per cent per annum. While the production from inland fisheries and brackish water resources has increased from 2,18,716 tonnes to 2,91,833 tonnes, there was a decline in the marine fish production from 1,30,767 tonnes to 1,18,311 tonnes during these five years.
The annual export of marine products from the State during last five years has ranged between 14,135 tonnes in 2008-09 and 23,691 tonnes valued approximately at Rs 35,800 crore to Rs 90,850 crore. Odisha’s contribution to the country’s present level of marine products export is about 2.5 per cent in term of quantity and 4.8 per cent in term of the total value of Indian marine products. However, the entire quantum of exports is taking place from outside the State from Visakhapatnam, Haldia and Chennai.
Besides, the State fisheries sector has an average per capita annual income at Rs 6,787 compared to the all-India average of Rs 10,204.
The draft policy suggests some fiscal incentives for the growth of the sector. It envisages declaration of aquaculture as an agriculture activity for enabling easy flow of credit, institutional finance, lower power tariffs, tax, excise, customs duty concessions or waiver or exemptions and water supply and issue of Kisan Credit Cards and provides necessary incentives and tax holidays to large-scale fish farmers who produce 10 tonnes per hectare or more fish.
The draft policy has provisions for adequate and timely credit to investors, working capital for primary fishery cooperatives, etc. The Government would promote insurance in freshwater aquaculture by providing 50 per cent of premium for encouraging fish farmers.