Shimla: With the state having recorded a fish production of 7381 tons worth Rs 38.41 crore in 2010-11, the union government has Rs 6.68 crore under national mission for protein supplement for increasing fish production from reservoirs.
Food and civil supply minister Ramesh Dhawala said between April and June, 2011, the states fish production was 1065.08 tons. Last financial year the production was 7381 tons.
“Efforts were being made to increase fish production and the Rs 6.68 Crore central project under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna would help enhance production from the states reservoirs,†he said.
Dhawala said a Mahseer fish seed farm at Machhial in Jogindernagar tehsil of Mandi district was being constructed at a cost of Rs 5 crores.
“The technology to be used at the new fish seed farm would help in large seed production of Mahseer fish which would be supplied to fish farmers as well as would be dispersed in open waters for scaling up stocking, he said. Inducing artificial breeding of hill stream fishes would also be tried at this farm, he added.
Secretary fisheries Ram Subhag Singh said that Rs 5 lakh funds were available for construction of trout raceways in tribal areas. For encouraging fishing, 26 community ponds had either been constructed or repaired, he added
Giving more details, BD Sharma director fishery said that by way of issuing fishing licenses and sale from government farms, the department last year had contributed a revenue of Rs 2 crore and so far Rs 42.73 lakhs to the state exchequer in the current year.
The total market value of last years production has been estimated at Rs 38.41 crore said Sharma. Giving the break up, he said that 956.18 tons fish was produced from reservoirs which include Bhakra Dam and Pong Dam reservoirs, 4115.78 tons from rivers and 2309.1 tons from ponds, which includes cold water fish such as trout.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
