The National Federation of Fishermen’s Cooperative limited (FISHCOPFED) is eager to take up projects worth Rs100 crore in Odisha. The State Government is equally interested to join hands with the national body of the fishermen. Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati held discussion with the Managing Director of FISHCOPFED BK Mishra here in presence of Fisheries and ARD Secretary Bishnupada Sethi.
Mishra, who hails from the State, has shown keen interest to develop the fishery sector, which is highly promising and rate of return on investment will be much better. The FISHCOPFED is now covering more than 11 lakh fishermen under the Centrally sponsored Accident Insurance Scheme. It has taken up production of fingerlings at Kalakala fish farm and is imparting training to empower fishermen in the State.
Chief Secretary Pati urged FISHCOPFED to play a more active role in the fishery sector as there is ample scope in this primary sector. He suggested Mishra to target production of 50 lakh fingerlings. The Chief Secretary asked Mishra to take up self employment training programme for the unemployed youths in the State for taking up entrepreneurship in the fishery sector.
The FISHCOPFED has the expertise to handle renovation of defunct and derelict tanks inside Kaushalyaganga fish farm; so it has shown interest to develop these tanks and use for production of small fish and propagation of small fish production on a pilot project in the neighbouring areas, which has a very good market, said an official.
Pati urged the national body for promotion of ‘cage culture’ in selected reservoirs of the State, which have already been piloted by the State Government. The fishermen groups can be assisted by the FISHCOPFED, he said. Mishra informed that they are opening a training centre at Kausalayaganga fish farm and is ready to take up training activities.
He also requested for funding support. A Retail Mobile Van will be put into operation from next April with financial support from the National Fishery Development Board (NFDB) by the FISHCOPFED, Mishra informed, adding that the FISHCOPFED is interested to open retail fish outlet in the lines of Chilika Fresh for which support will be sought from the NFDB.
Secretary Sethi suggested taking up ornamental fishery at a greater scale as the fish has a good demand in the urban areas, particularly in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar what Mishra readily agreed to. He said an initiative is on in this regard by availing funds from the Urban livelihood Mission.