Include fish in midday meal scheme menu: Top scientist

Lucknow, Sep 25 (UNI) A top agricultural scientist has suggested the inclusion of fish in the midday meal scheme, which is underway in majority of the states.

''Fish have high nutritional value and comes cheap. Some South Indian states like Tamil Nadu have already introduced fish in the midday meal menu,'' Dr S Ayyappan, Deputy Director General (Fisheries), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi told UNI here.

He said besides being economical and easy to prepare, fish is easy to digest and high in protein. It contains fewer calories and less fat than comparable servings of red meats.

''Fish is a rich source of B-complex vitamins and essential minerals including potassium, iron, phosphorus, copper, iodine, manganese, cobalt and selenium,'' he informed addding, some species are good sources of zinc and bone-building calcium.

Recent studies indicate that a meal or two of fish each week may help reduce blood cholesterol levels.

In this light, nutritionists are beginning to recommend more fish and seafood in the diet, based on scientific research on the beneficial roles of fish and fish oils in human nutrition and general health.

Dr Ayyappan said the per capita consumption of fish in India is 9 kgs/per year compared to 12 kgs/per year globally. ''This means we are not trailing much so far as global average is concerned in fish consumption,'' he stated.

India is home to about 2,400 fish species. Fisheries can play a vital role in maintaining the 'food and nutritional' security of the country, Dr Ayyappan, who is also the Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, observed.

He was here last week to attend a two-day national workshop on 'Fish Introductions in India: Status, Challenges and Potentials' organised at the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Lucknow.

The workshop aimed documenting the spread of exotic species in India, assesing emerging requirement in relation to the need for diversification of aqua-culture and threat to aquatic bio-diversity and developing suitable strategy to mitigate the impact of imported aquatic germplasm.

UNI VS VD HT1627