Punjab Government on Monday okayed comprehensive proposal for complete renovation and upgradation of 14 fish seed farms throughout the state at the cost of Rs 38 crore and seven fish farms would be ready within this financial year.
“Punjab Government has finalized a comprehensive plan to encourage farmers to go in for fisheries as a larger plan of the government to encourage agriculture diversification. Punjab government has drawn up a separate plan to promote fisheries in water-logged areas of Malwa and is encouraging farmers to adopt fisheries,” said the state Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike.
He said that the department was also focusing on effective marketing of fishery products to give remunerative price of their produce to the farmers and state government had already pleaded Union Government to set up cold chain for fisheries products for their national and international marketing.Reviewing the working of fisheries department, the Minister said that National Federation of Fishers Cooperatives limited (FIHSCOPFED) has already insured 1639 fishermen as a token appreciation.
Ranike said that 190 applications have been received to adopt fisheries as profession from the state. “A proposal has been finalized for the establishment of ultramodern training centre at district Amritsar and the same has been sent to Agriculture Department for funds under RKVY scheme.