Assam: steps initiated to tap potential of livestock and fishery sector

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has decided to tap the huge potential latent in both the livestock and fishery sectors across the State. The authorities have already initiated steps to upgrade the infrastructure with the latest technology particularly in the production of meat, milk and fish. Such a coordinated move is expected to involve many enterprising youths as well.

According to official sources, the livestock in Assam is valued at Rs 23,600 crore. The government recently sought private investment in the Animal Husbandry sector. It was supposed to have been implemented from January 2020. However, the agitation against the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and the corona pandemic have delayed the process.

While the average annual milk production in the State at present is around 950 million litres, that of meat is 51 MT and egg is 5,100 lakh. On the other hand, there has been a quantum leap in fish production. In fiscal 2018-19, as much as 3.32 MT of fish was produced in the State as against the demand of 3.54 MT during that financial year.

The Subhas Das Committee recently said, "A time has come now to give pinpointed attention to this sector to revive the economy alluring unemployed to this avocation."

An Animal Husbandry source said, "We've brought down the import of milk and pork by creating the milk value chain and also the pork value chain, thereby organizing the hitherto unorganized farmers and giving them facilities for processing, marketing etc."

Commissioner of the Fishery department, Rakesh Kumar said, "We submitted a proposal of Rs 1,000 crore under the 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Yojana' recently. The youths who returned to Assam from other States can be absorbed in this sector. Already pisciculture has grabbed the attention of the young here. Within a short time, besides meeting our domestic demand we hope to export fish to the other north-eastern States as well. The State has the potential to be a fish hub only if we can provide the modern infrastructure and technology. Import of both fish and egg is coming down slowly."

According to sources, the per capita availability of meat in Assam is 1.88 kg per year against the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) dietary guideline of 10.95 kg per year. Thus there has been a wide gap between the meat availability and its demand. The bulk of this demand is met with pork and mutton that comprise around 65 per cent of meat in the State. This is why the government is laying stress on piggery and goatery. The strategy is to give a fillip to this sector under Animal Husbandry — both at the individual as well as the community levels.

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