Increase in Fish Productivity | 18 Jul 2022

Why in News?

According to the information given by the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on July 17, 2022 fish productivity has increased more than two times in the state due to the incentives being given to fishermen and fish farmers to promote fisheries in the state.

Key Points

• The average fish productivity of the State in the year 2000 was 1850 MT per hectare. Currently, the average fish productivity of the state has gone up to 4,000 MT per hectare.
• Progressive fish farmers have started producing 8,000-10,000 MT of fish per hectare by adopting innovative fishing techniques and following improved species.
• In the year 2000, the State was ranked 9th in the field of fish production. The fish seeds were imported from other regions due to low production of fish seeds in the State. At present, Chhattisgarh has become self-sufficient in the field of fish seed production and has come down to the fifth position in the country and sixth in fisheries production.
• In the year 2000, out of only 1.538 lac hectare water area available, fish farming was done in 1.335 lac hectare water area. At present, about 2 lac hectares of water area is available in the state, out of which pisciculture is being done in about 1.961 lac hectares.
• Due to the geographical and Agro-climatic conditions of the State being favourable for fish farming, the traditional fishermen as well as the people of other classes have started rearing fish.
• The grant of agricultural status to fisheries in the State and credit facility to the fisheries on the lines of farmers and electric and water tax exemption have given a boost to fisheries in the State. Now it has become a profitable business, which people have started adopting rapidly.
• In view of the increasing growth in the fisheries sector in the state, ensuring the participation of fishermen for its rapid development, development of fish cooperatives, taking the benefits of government schemes and programs to the people associated with fisheries and training of new techniques, New Fisheries Policy, 2022 has been implemented by the Government of Chhattisgarh for the rearing of new species and for the conservation and development of native fish species. This will give a further boost to fisheries in the state.