Haryana plans to raise fish production

Chandigarh, Feb 14 (UNI) The Haryana government plans to increase fish production in the state to one lakh tonnes per year by the end of 11th Five Year Plan (2011-2012).

This would be more than double of the production level of 48,200 tonnes of the last financial year, a spokesman for the Fisheries Department said today.

He said it was being targeted to produce 55,000 tonne of fish during the current financial year.

At present, as many as 25,500 families were engaged in fish farming and fisheries trade in the state and the Department had fixed a target of providing technical and financial assistance to 36,000 families for fish cultivation by the current financial year.

He said 24,000 more rural families would be motivated to adopt fish farming and fisheries trade and by the end of the 11th Five year plan, it would provide assistance to 60,000 families for fish farming and fisheries trade to earn their livelihood.

He said one Aquaculture Research and Training Institute had been established in Hisar with the help of World Bank. This institute provides various types of refresher courses for fish farmers and fishermen.

Also, the Haryana Government provides various type of basic training in fish farming and fish seed production at district level.

He said Haryana was strategically located near Interstate Fish Market at New Delhi which was an added advantage to the fish farmers of the state for marketing their produce.

There were three fish markets at Faridabad, Panipat and Yamunanagar for providing assistance to the farmers. Facilities for fish transportation were being provided in these markets.

UNI