February 22, 2002

'27'

    The Union Agriculture Minister Shri Ajit Singh today said that his Ministry is formulating a National Fisheries Policy. He said that the Marine Policy that is rescindend in 1996 has created a vacuum triggering off several repercussions besides not being able to fully tap the harvestable potential of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Shri Ajit Singh said his Ministry is trying to address the issue through bringing out a Marine Fishing Policy. The Minister was addressing the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached with his Ministry here today.

    Shri Ajit Singh said that the Aquaculture Authority Bill which is currently before Parliament, when passed, will ensure sustainable development of coastal aquaculture. He informed the members that the several reforms proposed during the 10^th Plan to boost the sector include micro-management approach in case of centrally sponsored schemes, direct funding to state implementing agencies, involvement of financial institutions for providing schematic lending for bankable projects, change in the approved pattern of assistance to state governments in the centrally sponsored schemes and strengthening of monitoring mechanism. Shri Ajit Singh said that for increasing fish production, the focus has to shift to aquaculture and the development of reservoir fisheries need prior attention. "Mariculture is expected to be another major activity in the years to come. The breeding and culture of fresh water ornamental fishes would generate great employment opportunities and develop into a local trade. In keeping with the National Agriculture Policy, which aims to attain a growth rate of 4 percent per annum in the agriculture sector, a growth rate of minimum 4 percent is to be targeted for fisheries sector. It is necessary to earmark separate funds for activities relating to management of fisheries dealing with multiple user groups." The Minister said in addition to enhanced public investment, private sector investment has to be encouraged particularly in deep-sea sector, fish seed and feed production, besides fish processing and marketing.

    During discussions it was revealed that the central and centrally sponsored schemes are also being refined to meet the contemporary needs of the sector during the 10^th plan. In order to augment the fish production and promote aquaculture, four new pilot schemes: i) Development of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Hill Region; ii) Integrated Development of Inland Capture Fisheries Resources; iii) Development of Waterlogged Areas into Aquaculture Estates and iv) Utilisation of Inland Saline Soil for Aquaculture have been implemented in the States of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, Sikkim, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana with 100% central assistance during 2001-02.

    The meeting was also informed that as a sequel to the zero based budgeting exercise for convergence/merging/macro management and in the light of the recommendations of the Planning Commission and the Working Group Report on. The Government proposes to combine schemes in the fisheries sector under 5 categories. An outlay of Rs.1535 crores has been proposed for the 10^th Plan.

    During the discussion, members expressed concern that of the original budget allocation of Rs.800 crore, only Rs.418 crore have been spent till the end of January 2002. The Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Hukum Deo Narayan Yadav told the members that the state government were the main partners in the implementing the centrally-sponsored schemes, and quite often the funds could not be fully utilised due to financial crises, natural calamities, and altered priorities in the states.

    Some members raised the issue of reducing the interest rates of NABARD loans to farmers. Shri Yadav told them that the Ministry would issue necessary instructions to NABARD. Other issues which were raised during the discussion included excess production of food grains and their storage problem and pollution of rivers by industrial effluents. Members suggested that provision of infrastructure like cold chains for perishable fish products and implementation of special programmes for fishermen in the north-east. Members suggested that there should be real focus on marine fisheries because of its export potential and value addition should be carried out in the country rather than the outside.

    Members also demanded that the assistance to the scheme of inland fish marketing should continue during the 10^th Plan. Some members suggested for a proper marketing agency to protect the interest of small fishermen and suggested that small and medium irrigation projects should be exploited for fisheries purposes.

    Members who attended the meeting are Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria, Shri Uttamrao Dhikale, Shri K.P. Singh Deo, Shri N. Janaradhana Reddy and Shri K.A. Sangtam from Lok Sabha and Shri Ramendra Kumar Yada ‘Ravi’, Shri M.J. Varkey Mattathil, Shri Vikram Verma, Smt. Jamna Devi Barupal, Shri V.V. Raghavan and Shri Indramoni Bora.from Rajya Sabha.