Latest news with #PradhanMantriMatsyaSampadaYojana
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Tube-net seaweed farming takes root along AP coast
VISAKHAPATNAM: Seaweed farming is gaining popularity along Andhra Pradesh coast as an emerging livelihood, and sustainable marine practice that boosts coastal productivity. Known as the 'Medical Food of the 21st Century', seaweed offers health benefits, and industrial uses ranging from pharmaceuticals to food additives. Despite its potential, commercial seaweed farming in India's open seas remains limited due to strong wave action and environmental factors. Traditional bamboo raft-based mono-line farming, suitable for shallow, calm waters, often fails in rougher coastal areas. To overcome this, scientists have developed a tube net-based farming method using floating high-density polyethylene (HDPE) rafts with a multipoint mooring system. Speaking to TNIE, Joe K Kizhakudan, Principal Scientist and Head of ICAR-CMFRI's Visakhapatnam Regional Centre, said this system has shown structural stability and better yield in turbulent waters up to 10 metres deep. Trials using Kappaphycus alvarezii off Visakhapatnam coast proved successful. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the government has promoted this system, establishing a unit in Budagatlapalem village in Srikakulam district. Subsidies are being provided to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and fisher communities. Seaweed is harvested every 45 days, with dry seaweed selling for Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kg. Ten kg of wet seaweed yields 1 kg of dry product. The required tubes last up to 10 years, making the model sustainable with low recurring costs.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Seaweed farming: A path to empowering women
Seaweed and women's empowerment may not sound like an obvious fit, but that is the quiet change taking place along the coastline. India's seaweed industry is largely untapped, contributing only 0.003% in global trade value. However, the World Bank has identified 10 emerging seaweed markets/applications with a potential of $11.8 billion by 2030. Seaweed lies at the intersection of India's green economy, coastal development, and bio-economy goals. India is home to over 844 seaweed species but only 60 are commercially cultivated. A paltry three species are currently farmed at scale in regions such as Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aims to boost seaweed production to 1.12 million tonnes in five years. Women can play a big role in this expansion. From female seaweed diving squads harvesting the plants, to women driving innovation in labs, supply chains, and boardrooms, seaweed is emerging as an industry that's seeing women play a key role at every rung of the ladder. The seaweed industry has emerged as an alternative employment for fisherfolk — nearly 60% of India's seaweed workforce comprise women. Women are not just the frontline gatherers and farmers, but are also producers of value. From innovative food businesses creating high-protein seaweed crackers, to award-winning biodegradable plastic, full-stack tech solutions, to a legacy company cultivating important species of seaweed — the industry is replete with examples of women with big entrepreneurial ambitions. Their efforts are not only creating new business models, but also reimagining how seaweed — that can also serve as an effective carbon sequestration tool — can drive innovative business models, coastal livelihood opportunities, and economic growth. A Council for Environment, Energy and Water (CEEW) study on the green economy points out how, thanks to a short cultivation period, seaweed farming can improve livelihood opportunities for fishing communities, especially women. For instance, it found that in Chilika Lake, Odisha, approximately 100 trained individuals, particularly women, cultivate Gracilaria, a type of seaweed indigenous to the area near Balugaon. The seaweed matures for harvesting within just 45 days of planting, enabling cultivators to earn up to ₹10,000 per month from a 10-acre underwater area. Abhishek Jain, director, Green Economy and Impact Innovations, CEEW, says, 'Seaweed cultivation offers a climate-neutral, resource-efficient path to strengthen India's Green Economy. One of our study estimates Odisha alone could generate over one lakh sustainable jobs and ₹800 crore in market value for the industry by 2030.' Women entrepreneurs in the sector are leading a wide range of innovations — from ethical harvesting to producing edible seaweed products, to manufacturing hydrocolloids for food and pharma industries, and even developing seaweed-based biodegradable packaging materials. Gabriella D'Cruz, marine conservationist and founder of Good Ocean says, 'Seaweed harvesting and farming is generally carried by women from coastal communities over men primarily due to its intertidal nature. Women generally prefer to farm or harvest seaweed closer to their homes while men go out to sea on boats.' Devleena Bhattacharya, founder, ClimaCrew, says her company is building a full stack tech platform to scale up cultivation, processing, and a marketplace for seaweed in India, to connect seaweed suppliers and buyers using data, technology, and social science — kind of a digital backbone for the industry. Be it Atmanirbhar Bharat, Nari Shakti, Viksit Bharat, or climate action, this industry is aligned with several national goals. All it needs is better visibility. The views expressed are personal.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Fisherfolk urge Centre to end insurance woes
Panaji: Restrictions on the length of fishing trawlers, rising feed costs, and limited availability of seedlings and high-quality fish seeds within Goa are some of the challenges that the state's fisherfolk face. Goan fisherfolk, including fish farmers, have asked the Union ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying to address these concerns. They also emphasised the need for improved infrastructure and greater financial support in the sector. The fisherfolk said that existing state regulations regarding the length of fishing vessels limit Goan trawlers from sailing out into deeper waters to fish. Meanwhile, fish farmers said that insurance companies refuse to cover disease-related losses suffered by prawn hatcheries, fish farms, and bio-floc units. 'At present, no insurance coverage is available to cover fishery crops, and due to that, banks are very reluctant to provide loans to the poor fisherfolk without any collateral,' said a statement from the fisheries department. The statement added, 'A robust effort is being initiated to start the insurance coverage for fisheries under the new flagship sub-scheme, namely, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana.' The fisherfolk brought up their concerns during a virtual meeting with Abhilaksh Likhi, the fisheries secretary with the Centre's department of fisheries. The core objective of the session was to understand grassroots challenges, resolve existing issues, and formulate future govt policies. During the meeting, beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana said that the scheme supported the growth of ornamental fisheries, sea cage culture, and prawn farming. Officials assured the fisherfolk that recurrent issues with the banks were noted, and the ministry of fisheries is trying to sort them out with the cooperation of the finance ministry and bankers.
India Gazette
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan lays foundation stone of Integrated Aquapark in Tripura
Agartala (Tripura) [India], May 18 (ANI): Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh on Sunday laid a foundation stone for an Integrated Aquapark under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), worth Rs 42.4 crores in Kailashahar, Tripura. The event was held in Agartala, Tripura on Sunday. In addition, the event featured an exhibition and inauguration of the Fish Festival highlighting the rich culture and diverse fishes of the state. The event was also graced by George Kurian, Minister of State, MoFAH&D and Ministry of Minority Affairs along with Sudhangshu Das, Minister of Fisheries, Government of Tripura and Tinku Roy, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government. of Tripura. In his address, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh shed light on the vital role, the sector plays in boosting India's economy, noting that the fisheries sector has exhibited growth at 9.08 per cent since 2014-15, highest amongst Agri and Allied sectors, in India, according to an official release from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj. Recognising the vast potential that Tripura has in the fisheries sector, he stressed upon the need to bridge the gap between demand and supply through use of modern technology, integrated farming and innovation. Ranjan highlighted that out of 11 Integrated Aqua Parks in the country, 4 are being set up in the Northeast region, including one in Tripura. The Union Minister urged the stakeholders to work diligently towards transforming Tripura into a 'fish surplus state' capable of exporting fish, and to strive for a production target of 2 lakh tonnes, significantly exceeding the state's requirement of 1.5 lakh tonnes. He stated that soon Tripura would also be developed into an Organic Fish Cluster like Sikkim. While laying emphasis on the need to complete the Integrated Aquapark in a time bound manner, the Union Minister emphasized upon the importance of imparting institutional training to fish farmers. Encouraging fishers to utilize government schemes like Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastucture Development Fund (FIDF) and PMMSY, Ranjan reiterated the central government's commitment towards supporting training and capacity building through NFDB. Rajiv Ranjan Singh also addressed issues like need to boost scampi production, develop ornamental fisheries, improve infrastructure, ensure easier market access and promote innovation and sustainability in the sector. On this occasion, the Union Minister distributed certificates and sanction orders to various beneficiaries. George Kurian, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Ministry of Minority Affairs, emphasized the need to enhance fish productivity in Tripura, noting that nearly 98 per cent of the state's population consumes fish. He acknowledged the significant role fisheries plays in the state's food security and economy. Sudhangshu Das, Minister of Fisheries, ARDD and SC Welfare, Government of Tripura, emphasized the state's commitment to uplifting fishers and fish farmers through targeted interventions. The Minister also shared that under the Matsya Sahayata Yojana, identified fishers and fish farmers are receiving annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 to support their livelihood. Encouraging the youth to take up fisheries as a viable means of employment, he noted that Tripura holds significant untapped potential in the sector. Tinku Roy, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Tripura further encouraged continued collaboration and collective action to uplift the fisheries sector and enhance livelihoods of fishers in Tripura. Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Union Secretary, MoFAH&D, highlighted the Department's key schemes and initiatives, including PMMSY, FIDF, and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY), with a combined investment outlay of approximately Rs 38,000 crores. It was noted that projects worth Rs 2,114 crores have been approved for the Northeastern region, including Rs 319 crore specifically for Tripura. Likhi urged fishers and fish farmers to embrace modern technologies such as Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Biofloc, and drone-based applications, while fully leveraging advancements in research and development. Emphasizing the significance of livelihood security, he also highlighted the advantages of providing insurance coverage for fishers. Additionally, special emphasis was placed on species diversification, particularly the promotion of high-value indigenous species like Pabda and Singhi. The event was also attended by Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries, MoFAH&D, Dr Bijay Kumar Behera, Chief Executive, NFDB along with other senior officials from the centre and state fisheries department. Tripura, with its high fish consumption rate of over 29 kg per capita per year, has made significant progress in recent years. Under PMMSY, the state has received an investment of Rs. 178 crore. Over the last five years, Tripura has implemented 69 approved projects with a cumulative value of Rs. 258.61 crores in the sector. The Integrated Aqua Park in Kailashahar alone accounts for an investment of Rs. 42.4 crores and is expected to serve as a backbone for modern fish production and marketing infrastructure, benefiting a wide range of stakeholders across the aquaculture ecosystem. It is expected to generate direct employment for about 100 people and indirect employment for over 500 people in the state. During the event, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan also distributed certificates and sanction orders to various fisheries beneficiaries. (ANI)
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Centre to set up 4 integrated aquaparks in northeast to boost fish production
Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Sunday said that to boost fish production, the Centre has sanctioned 11 Integrated Aquaparks across the country, with four of them to be set up in four northeastern states. After virtually laying the foundation stone of Tripura's proposed Integrated Aquapark and inaugurating the fish festival, the Union Minister said that four Integrated Aquaparks would be set up in Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. 'Tripura and other northeastern states have huge demands for fish, and these states have the potential to increase the production of fish,' Singh told the media. He said the Centre and the state governments in the country have taken joint efforts to increase fish production in the country. Later, addressing the function, the Union Minister said the Centre would do everything and would always support making Tripura self-sufficient in fish and milk production. The state's proposed Integrated Aquapark would be set up in Unakoti district headquarters, Kailashahar. A senior official said this Integrated Aquapark is being set up with an investment worth Rs 42.4 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The Integrated Aquapark in Kailashahar would serve as a backbone for modernising infrastructure for fish production, processing and marketing in the state, benefiting a wide range of stakeholders across its value chain, he said. An official statement said the Department of Fisheries, under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, has been prioritising the establishment of Integrated Aquaparks as a flagship intervention under PMMSY. These aquaparks are conceptualised as integrated hubs that offer services ranging from hatcheries and feed mills to cold storage, processing, training, and marketing, all under one roof. According to the statement, these facilities are not merely physical structures; they are catalysts for value chain development, innovation, and livelihood generation, particularly for youth and women in the region. The parks would operate on a hub-and-spoke model, customised to address regional needs and specific thematic areas. This integrated approach ensures that all facets of the fisheries and aquaculture value chain, from production and processing to retail, are supported by providing end-to-end solutions, maximising output and fostering sustainable growth. Tripura has emerged as a frontrunner in this effort. The state, with its high fish consumption rate of over 29 kg per capita per year, has made significant progress in the fisheries sector in recent years, the statement said. Under the PMMSY and Blue Revolution, the state of Tripura has received projects worth Rs 319 crore during the last 10 years to support aquaculture expansion, infrastructure, technology infusion, fishers' welfare and market intervention. In the foundation stone laying ceremony and inauguration of the fish festival, George Kurian, Union Minister of State, MoFAH&D and Tripura's Animal Resource Development Department Minister Sudhangshu Das, among others, were present. On this occasion, certificates/sanction orders were distributed to various beneficiaries in the fisheries sector that entailed the disbursement of Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to eligible fishers and fish farmers. Best performing Cooperatives, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), and fisheries startups were also recognised for their contributions to the sector and beneficiaries supported under PMMSY received certificates, highlighting the government's continued commitment towards inclusive and sustainable development.
