Indian Fisheries: March to Prosperity

Dr L Murugan

(The writer is the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, and Information and Broadcasting)

A 'fish' finds a prominent place, not just in the cycle of evolution, but in the stories of all major ancient civilizations as well. Our Puranas talk about the Matsyavatara, the first incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The beautiful Sangam literature of ancient Tamil Nadu vividly describes the life of fishermen and the curved boats (Akananuru). Indus Valley excavations lead us to appreciate the prevalence of fishery-related activities in ancient India. India, with its extensive coastlines and mighty rivers, is endowed with rich fishery resources, and the fish and fishermen have, since the beginning, occupied a central place in our culture.

After Independence Indian fisheries developed at varying pace and directions depending on the initiative, priorities and resources of the respective States. With little involvement or investment from Centre (reports indicate that total Central Government releases for fisheries sector was as low as Rs 3,682 crore since Independence till 2014) Indian fisheries remained hugely neglected. The brave Indian fishermen continued to venture into the oceans, on the rickety boats, with little support in terms of insurance, safety kit, credit facility, post harvest and marketing support. After 67 years of Independence, the sector which was an important source of food, nutrition and livelihood to crores of Indians, was left adrift like a rudderless ship in open seas.

The problems were numerous, and issues inexhaustible. In 2014, the people of India, fed up with corruption, policy paralysis of the then Government, took a decision and elected a decisive Government at the Centre under the dynamic leadership of Narendra Modi, a leader who could understand the pain of this sector and the pulse of the nation.

The first and foremost thing that Modiji did was that he brought the focus of the Centre back to the fisheries sector. The last eight years have seen rollout of investments worth more than Rs 32,000 crore in the form of Blue Revolution Scheme, Fishery and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), apart from many other initiatives.

These steps removed the bottlenecks and unshackled the sector, following the mantra of 'Reform, Perform and Transform'. This ensured phenomenal growth in India's fish production, from 102 lakh tonne in 2014-15 to 161 lakh tonne in 2021-22. The fisheries sector grew at an average annual growth rate of 10 % in the first five years of the Modi Government, as against 5.27% from FY 2009-10 to 2013-14.

Fulfilling his election promise, Prime Minister Modi created a separate Ministry for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, for more focused and holistic development of fishery sector. In 2020, the Prime Minister announced the highest-ever investment of Indian fisheries at Rs 20,050 crore through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya SampadaYojana (PMMSY), as a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The PMMSY is proving to be the main driving force to take Indian fisheries to new heights. The scheme, by 2024-25, envisages to increase the production, productivity and exports of fishery products exponentially. It also envisages to reduce post-harvest losses significantly, and to increase the fish consumption in India.

The reforms and initiatives have seen core infrastructure development and modernization in Indian fisheries, especially the push for new fishing harbours/landing centres, modernization and motorization of traditional fishermen crafts, deep sea-going vessels, provision of post-harvest facilities, cold chains, clean and hygienic fish markets, two-wheelers with ice boxes and many more. Fishermen are provided with insurance cover, financial assistance and a facility of Kisan Credit Card as well.

Ease of doing business is rigorously being pursued. The Digital India has drastically reduced the processing time for obtaining Sanitary Import Permits (SIPs), from 45 days to just 48 hours. The requirement of SIPs for import of SPF Shrimp Broodstock from approved sources has been done away with, helping hundreds of shrimp hatcheries. The Government also reduced import duty on many inputs required for shrimp aquaculture, thus helping to promote their exports.

Our fishermen are our pride. The Modi Government has been continuously working with the motto of 'Seva, Sushasan and Gareeb Kalyan' for the welfare and empowerment of fishermen and women. The sector is being diversified. Now, women from Tamil Nadu are working for seaweed cultivation, while those from Lakshdweep develop ornamental fisheries. Our Assamese fishermen can develop river ranching in Brahmaputra, while Andhra entrepreneurs show strong results in aquaculture, getting more crop per drop. Young women entrepreneurs from the Kashmir valley are setting up cold water trout units. Saline lands of Haryana are being productively used for fisheries, converting wastelands into wealth lands.

New start-ups in aquaculture are attracting talent, technology, finance and entrepreneurial spirit to the fisheries, ushering in a silent social revolution too. A glorious sub-chapter of Indian fisheries, in the form of aquaculture, is being scripted currently, catapulting India to a leading position in global Shrimp production and exports. India has become the second-largest aquaculture producer, third-largest fish producer and fourth-largest exporter of fish and fisheries products, taking Brand India from 'Local to Global'.

With the bottlenecks removed, technology infused, welfare redirected to actual beneficiaries, entrepreneurial spirit encouraged and women empowered, Indian fishery has broken away from the shackles that bound it for more than six decades since Independence. With 'Sabka Sath , Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas', the eight years of the Modi Government have laid a strong foundation of Indian fisheries. Today, as we celebrate the second anniversary of PMMSY, Indian fishery has already started its march towards glorious days ahead. From here, it can only grow higher, generating more income and happy smiles for our fisher brothers and sisters.