Fish seed production has risen by 13 percent and fish production by 9 percent in Chhattisgarh in the last two years, thanks to the government's encouragement to fisheries and pisciculture.
And in what is seen as a grand honour, fishermen from the state will be awarded at the national level for their remarkable contribution in the field of fisheries, an official statement said on Friday.
The award will be presented at a ceremony at the AP Symposium Hall, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, by the Union government to mark the World Fisheries Day on November 21.
At the ceremony, M.M. Fish Seed Cultivation Pvt Ltd, Mana, Raipur, will get a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh along with a certificate of appreciation on account of Best Fisheries enterprises.
Also, company M.I.K, Sihawa, district Dhamtari, will get a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh along with a certificate of appreciation under the Best Proprietary Firm Cadre.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Ravindra Choubey have congratulated the fishermen and the institutions that have made the state proud.
Choubey said Chhattisgarh is self-sufficient in fish seed production and the state has been ranked sixth in the field in the country.
The state exports fish seeds to Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
The Director of Fisheries said that in the past two years fish production has increased from 4.89 lakh tonnes to 5.31 lakh tonnes in the state (a rise of 9 percent).
Pangasius species are being cultured by pisciculturists of the state by constructing 1,000 ponds on their land in the past two years. Progressive fish farmers are culturing the Pangasius fish species, providing the state healthy protein-rich diet.
The Cage culture technique ensures 100 percent attainment of fish in medium and large reservoirs of the state. Until now, 1,400 cages have been installed in 11 districts.