Haryana Agriculture and Fisheries Minister OP Dhankar on Wednesday said that budget allocation of the Fisheries Department has been increased from Rs5 crore to Rs16 crore to promote blue revolution and to make fisheries a profitable business.
Besides, he said, a centre of excellence for shrimp culture in saline water on 17 acres
of land would be set up in district Jhajjar in collaboration with Vietnam.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating newly constructed building of Directorate of Fisheries Department constructed at a cost of Rs2.28 crore at Panchkula, the Agriculture Minister said that a big project is being prepared to promote pisciculture in the State. "Units of colourful fishes would also be set up in the state so that farmers with less land holdings could get work and enhance their income," he added.
The Minister said that such type of schemes would be launched in the State as per which fish rearing could be carried out in normal as well as saline water. This year, shrimp culture area in saline water has been increased to 40 hectare. "The saline water land lying waste in Haryana would be utilized for shrimp culture," he said.
Dhankar said that a provision of Rs500 crore has been made under National Agriculture Development Scheme. Under this, 50 per cent grant of the total cost of unit is being given to fish farmers. The Fisheries Department is implementing various schemes for providing loans and grants to farmers for fish rearing.
Member of Parliament Ratan lal Kataria, MlA Gian Chand Gupta, Director Fisheries Rajender Kumar Sangwan and other officers were also present on the occasion.