Manipur government has taken up various steps to achieve self sufficiency in fish production by 2020, the state fisheries minister N Kayisii said.
A committee under the banner Manipur state fisheries development technical committee initiated by the state chief minister N Biren Singh has been constituted in this regard.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
All banks operating in the State were invited to extend financial help in terms of loans to fish farmers in the State, minister Kayisii said while responding to a question by opposition Congress MLA Surjakumar Okram of Khangabok Assembly constituency in Thoubal district during Assembly session on Saturday.
So far, a total of 239 loans out of 2871 applicants were sanctioned as the first phase as on February 8 this year, he said. A fish feed mill plant is being established at government fish farm Imphal west district for producing quality fish feed at affordable price.
He also informed that 18 fish farms will be opened in 10 districts of the State following the guidelines of the Central scheme. He assured the House that a Cabinet memo will be prepared for regularisation of the 87 contract employees of the Fisheries Department and it will be put up for Cabinet decision.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Opposition members K Meghachandra of Wangkhem and P Brojen Singh of Wangjing Tentha constituency moved policy cut on fishery department in the day’s session.
Participating in the demand discussion, leader of the House and chief minister N Biren Singh informed the House that as a measure to increase the fish production in the State, the Government has identified suitable areas for fish farming at Moirang, Oinam, Bishnupur,Wangoi, Konthoujam and Lamshang.
He said that the officials of Fisheries Department have met the fish farmers of the concerned areas and has tied up with banks to provide timely loans to the beneficiaries. Stating that 2,871 fish farmers applied for the fish loan, he informed that 239 beneficiaries were provided fish loan.
Informing the House that the Government will prohibit fishing during breeding season of the fishes, he said that various types of fish culture will be adopted to increase the fish production in the State. He said the department has procured fish feed machine which will help to manufacture fish feeds within the State.
Noting the importance of high consumption of Ngari (fermented fish) in the State, he said that the State needs to focus on large scale production of phabou-nga (Puntius chola)which is used in making fermented fish and noted that the import of the particular fish from outside the State poses threat on health.