The state presently produces 130 million fish fingerlings as against the demand for 250 million fish fingerlings. The balance is met through private nurseries in Andhra Pradesh.

For availing the NFDB assistance, the department of fisheries has drawn up a detailed plan to tap reservoirs and tanks to step up fish stock and seed production. Till last year (2007-08), about 17 reservoirs and 20,000 hectares of tanks were utilised to stock the unsold fish.

"Now we plan to cover more areas for both stocking fish and for stepping up seed production in the state. Hence a detailed plan is being submitted to NFDB. The plan envisages tapping into 23 additional reservoirs and 30,000 hectares of tanks to boost production," said H S Veerappa Gowda, director, Department of Fisheries Karnataka.

In Karnataka, till 2001, about 150 million fish fingerlings were produced annually. Due to three drought years (during financial years 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04) the production fell to 110 million. Now after three good years of rains it has reached 130 million level.

"If the NFDB assistance comes through and is implemented, in three years we can expect production to rise substantially in the state," said Gowda. On the lines of the NFDB proposal, the state government had also taken up similar assistance from National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC) to construct seed production farm at the Bhadra reservoir.

According to Gowda, "The project yielded 10 million fish fingerlings and took care of the Malnad and few interior districts' needs."

The fisheries department has also taken rejuvenation and improvement of ponds and lakes in rural areas under Nabard's Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). "When the programme kicks-in, we may get a base to produce four-five crore fish fingerlings," Gowda said.

"Karnataka's inland fisheries production is stagnant around 120,000 tonnes. Through new initiatives under the NFDB and Nabard, it is likely to be around 200,000 tonnes in five years," Gowda added.