Mandya DC reviews progress of fisheries sector

Time of India

4 days ago

Mandya: With an impressive annual fish production of nearly 30,000 tonnes, Mandya district holds significant potential in the fisheries sector. Deputy commissioner Kumara emphasised the urgent need to establish a well-structured market system to support and encourage fish farmers.
He addressed the district-level review meeting of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for the financial year 2025–26, held at the DC's office and organised by the department of fisheries. Highlighting the district's fishery resources, Kumara noted that Mandya has 865 lakes—including 177 departmental lakes and 688 gram panchayat lakes—as well as 26 river stretches and four reservoirs used for fish cultivation.
In the financial year 2024–25 alone, 306 lakes were developed to enhance fish farming. The district is home to 47 fishermen cooperative societies, supporting over 45,000 fishermen. Kumara stressed the importance of equipping these fishermen with advanced training and best practices in fishery techniques to improve productivity and sustainability, he said.
Over the past five years, 742 beneficiaries availed support under the PMMSY, with a cumulative financial assistance of Rs 513.3 lakh disbursed. For the year 2024–25 alone, Rs 224.2 lakh was sanctioned. The DC directed officials to ensure effective utilisation of these funds and promote fish farming even in agricultural ponds.
Zilla panchayat CEO KR Nandini, who also spoke on the occasion, underlined the need for continuous training for beneficiaries and called for strict monitoring to prevent misuse of the scheme's benefits.