Fish farming set to get boost in Haryana

Haryana has the second highest fish productivity of 5600 kg per hectare per year in the country. A multi-pronged strategy has been adopted to increase production of fish and lay emphasis on diversification of fish farming from traditional carp fish culture to ornamental fish culture.

It will also generate employment opportunities in fish farming and provide financial assistance and technical know-how to people engaged in fish farming, a spokesman of Haryana Fisheries Department said here today.

A target has been fixed to achieve fish production level of 1.10 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) by the end of current financial year as against the production of 1.06 LMT fish produced during the financial year 2011-12.

Also, it has decided to provide financial assistance and technical know-how to 22,000 families and benefit 420 families belonging to Scheduled Castes under a 20 Point Programme during the current financial year, he said.

"In addition to it, efforts are being made to provide part-time employment opportunities to 56,000 families in pisciculture during this financial year. Area of water under fish culture would also be raised from 18,765 hectares to more than 19,500 hectares in the current financial year," he said.

The spokesman further said the state government has already substantially reduced electricity tariff for fisheries sector and brought it at par with that of agriculture sector, that is 25 paise per unit and has also waived off VAT on fish seed and fish meal.

"The income of village panchayat by leasing of Panchayati ponds is upto Rs 35 crore. Sixty five hectares of land would be covered under fish ponds with hundred per cent grant from the Government. This incentive would increase the income of Panchayats and generate employment opportunities for the unemployed rural youth," he added.