21st National Fish Farmers' Day celebrated at Raha in Nagaon district

* Acknowledging fish as an asset by PM Narendra Modi a matter of great pride for fish farmers: Fisheries Minister

* 'Creation of gene bank will increase fish production up to five lakh metric tonnes'

RAHA: The 21st National Fish Farmers' Day was observed in a befitting manner at Jungal Balahu Fish Farm at Raha in Nagaon district here on Saturday.

Synchronising with the event, some selected progressive fish farmers were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to the field of fishing farming ventures.

Speaking on the occasion as the Chief Guest, Fisheries Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said it was during the tenure of the NDA Governments headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Fisheries sector got top priority. He also said that PM Modi has acknowledged fish as an asset and that itself is a matter of great pride and satisfaction for the fish farmers of the country. "Unlike in the past, fishing is no longer a neglected sector with Prime Minister Narendra Modi according topmost priority to this sector," he said, adding that the BJP led Government in Assam has been making concerted efforts to make use of the vast water resources of the state to increase fish production.

Suklabaidya lauded the fish farmers for their commendable contributions towards food and nutritional security of the state and the country as a whole. "I extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to the fish farmers of the State. I also appeal to the youngsters to come forward and take up fish farming as a lucrative venture," he quipped.

The Minister thanked the fish farmers for their outstanding contribution towards quality animal protein into the food basket of the country.

Recognising unmatched hardships and perseverance of the farming community, Suklabaidya thanked the farmers for adopting latest technologies like Biofloc and Cage Culture to increase production.

Suklabaidya said the State is making steady progress in the fish farming sector since 2016 with fish production attaining 3.93 lakh metric tonnes. He exuded optimism that fish production would increase up to five lakh metric tonnes with the creation of gene bank, for which the government has spent Rs.10 crore.

He said many youths who have come back to the state due to the COVID induced lockdown have taken up fish farming by constructing individual and community ponds with Government subsidy. "Of the 12,000 individual and community ponds, 10,000 ponds have been constructed," he added.

The Minister also recalled scientist Dr.Hira Lal Chaudhury's gift of induced breeding technology to 'Blue Revolution' in India. Chaudhury successfully demonstrated Hypophysation (technology of induced breeding) in Indian Major Carps (common name for several species of fish) on 10th July, 1957.

Suklabaidya assured continued hand holding to the farming community for sustainable development of Fisheries through innovative technological interventions.

Congratulating the fish farmers on the occasion, Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Kavitha Padmanabhan, said the Fisheries sector in the district is making good strides and the district has attained self sufficiency on the fish production front. "25 per cent of fish is exported from the district to other parts of the state and the North East part of the country," she said, adding that the district was awarded the best district in the country in the World Fisheries Day event last year.

She said the farmers have come forward to adopt latest technologies, including Biofloc technology to enhance production and income. Padmanabhan said fish production will get a major boost with the coming up of a fish feed mill in the district which will help to cut down transportation cost.

Padmanabhan appealed to the Minister to develop the historic Jungal Balahu Fish Farm as an eco-tourism spot with angling and boating facilities and also a fish museum for children.

MLA cum Chairperson, Assam Fisheries Development Corporation (AFDC), Ramakanta Dewri urged the youth to come forward to take up fishing in a big way as the state has huge potential in the form of vast water resources.

District Fisheries Development Officer, Nagaon, Dr. Ramendra Chandra Barman, Convenor, Matsya Jibi Kosh, BJP, Assam Unit, Ganesh Das and Director of Fisheries, NK Debnath also spoke on the occasion. Associate Dean, College of Fisheries, Raha, Dr.Binod Kalita, Organising Secretary, Assam State BJP, Phanindra Nath Sarma, MD, FISHFED, Dr. Dhrubajyoti Sharma, former MLA, Guneswar Das and FDO attached to Minister, Pratul Deka were present.

Earlier, Minister Suklabaidya and other dignitaries distributed chital fish fingerlings and jayanti rohu spawn to the progressive fish farmers. He also released a magazine 'Matsya Jibi' and PMMSY leaflet on the occasion. The Minister also planted saplings.

A Fish Seed Multiplication Centre with induced breeding built under APART was inaugurated by Chairperson, AFDC, Dewri, stated a press release.

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