Kashmir Fishery Innovative measures to double annual fish production in Kashmir valley
Thanks to the innovative initiatives and efforts of the Fisheries Department in the Kashmir valley, the annual production of fish has reached a record level and this production is increasing day by day.
According to the department, 20.08 lakh tonnes of fish are produced in the valley every year while 25 lakh tonnes of fish are consumed here annually. And thus 4 lakh tons of fish are imported from outside the state.
With the aim of doubling their production in the valley, the LG administration is taking new initiatives under which several awareness programmes are also being organized to attract people, especially the youth, towards fisheries.
In this regard, a one-day seminar, and awareness programme was organized in the Zanipora area of the Shopian district of South Kashmir recently.
The programme was organized at Zanipora Fish Farm in which many unemployed youths and private fish farm holders participated.
During the awareness programme, information was given about the schemes provided by the department including modern scientific research related to fish farming.
Assistant Director of Fisheries, Zahoor Ahmed Mir, who was also the chief guest at the event, appealed to the unemployed youth to earn self-employment by taking advantage of the schemes devised by the government.
He said that by experimenting with fish farming, he can provide employment not only to himself but also to others.
He appealed to the educated youth who came to the awareness camp that they do not need to pursue government jobs but they can earn better employment by availing the schemes designed by the government.
Other invited experts including the Assistant Director of Fisheries highlighted the various schemes devised during the awareness camp.
He said that the scheme of carp fish farming was started during the year 2004 to 2005 under the PM package.
In 2009, trout farming was started in the private sector under RKVY while another scheme called National Mission for Protein Supplement (MMPS) was started in 2011 to 2012 to promote the fish business in the private sector.
The experts in the awareness camp said that the main objective of such a camp is to implement all the schemes devised at the ground level. And to inform the people so that they can avail these schemes at the right time.
At the same time, he informed the people involved in fish farming about the modern methods of fish farming.
The youth involved in fish farming said that they are getting good support from the Department of Fisheries in fish farming and they are also getting good profits from this business.
At the same time, he appealed to other unemployed youths to earn self-employment by availing the benefit of the schemes.
