All You Need To Know About This New Scheme On Aquaculture Farming Launched By Naveen Patnaik

All You Need To Know About This New Scheme On Aquaculture Farming Launched By Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, November 27: In order to create an additional 2,200 hectares of fresh water aquaculture farming, the state government has launched a new scheme ‘Mastya Pokhari Yojana’ (Mo Machha Pokhari). Under this scheme, around 2200 hectare of fresh water aquaculture farming will be created, with 50 percent financial assistance to farmers.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced this at a workshop on ‘Doubling of Farmers’ income through Dairy and Allied farming practices’ which was organised by Fisheries and ARD Department at Jaydev Bhawan on Monday.

Informing about the scheme, Naveen Patnaik said, “The plan has been introduced at a budget provision of 96 crore. The new scheme will help fish farmers to increase their productivity. From today onwards various services in the fisheries sector will also be made online. I hope that women SHGs and fisheries cooperatives will participate to make use of the scheme.”

Informing about the National Sample Survey, he said, “As per the latest survey report, the farmer’s average household monthly income in Odisha has doubled since 2003 to 2013. The contribution from fisheries and livestock sector was reported to have increased 33.35 times significantly.”He even mentioned that the role of livestock and fisheries is crucial for the growth of economy as 80 percent of rural farmers in Odisha comprise small and marginal farmers.

Similarly, talking about the annual fish production, Agriculture and F &ARD Minister Damodar Rout said, “The annual fish production has increased from 2.60 lakh tonnes in 2000-2001 to 6.08 lakh tonnes in 2016-17. Similarly, per day milk production has seen a quantum jump from 24 lakh liters in 2000-01 to 54 lakh liters in 2016-17.The egg production has also experienced a substantial increase from 20 lakh eggs per day in 2000-01 to 54 lakh in 2016-17.”

Meanwhile, on the occasion, the Chief Minister dedicated an ‘Animal Ambulance’ with a budget provision of one crore in the urban areas of Berhampur and Cuttack to provide emergency assistance to sick and injured animals.Later, he also distributed appointment orders to 232 technical persons which include 56 VAS, 158 Livestock Inspectors and 18 Junior Fisheries Technical Assistants.

Pictures by: Rakesh Roul