AQUACULTURE
Source: PIB
Key points
TDB-DST (Technology Development Board-Department of Science and Technology) Contributes to the "Blue Revolution" through technology intervention, and supports the sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India.
Aquaculture
Aquaculture can be simply put as the controlled process of cultivating aquatic organisms, especially meant for human consumption.
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According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, "The farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants.
Farming implies some sort of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc."
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Such farming also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated, the planning, development and operation of aquaculture systems, sites, facilities and practices and production and transport.
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Image source: The Fish site
Why is Fisheries important for India?
- Fisheries is one of the fastest growing sectors among the primary producing sectors.
- The sector plays a vital role in the economic and overall development of the country also referred to as the "Sunrise Sector", it is poised to bring immense potential through equitable and inclusive growth.
- The sector is recognized as a powerful engine for employing 14.5 million people and sustaining a livelihood for the 28 million fishermen community of the country.
- Thus, the sector urges young entrepreneurs of the country to come forward and offer solutions, resolving on-ground challenges through technology interventions and innovative solutions.
Neel Kranti Mission
Blue Revolution, the Neel Kranti Mission has the vision to achieve economic prosperity for the country and the fishers and fish farmers as well as contribute towards food and nutritional security through full potential utilization of water resources for fisheries development in a sustainable manner, keeping in view the bio-security and environmental concerns.
Vision
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Its vision is to create an enabling environment for the integrated development of the full potential of fisheries in the country.
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Aim
| It aims to improve the income status of fishers and fish farmers keeping in view sustainability, bio-security and environmental concerns. |
Objectives
- To increase the overall fish production responsibly and sustainably for economic prosperity.
- To modernise the fisheries with a special focus on new technologies.
- To ensure food and nutritional security.
- To generate employment and export earnings and
- To ensure inclusive development and empower fishers and aquaculture farmers.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
- The cabinet under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Prime Minister came up with 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to bring about the 'Blue Revolution' through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India.
- The scheme targets to enhance fish production to 220 lakh metric tons by 2024-25, at an average annual growth rate of about 9 per cent.
- The ambitious scheme also aims to double the export earnings to Rs. 1, 00, 000 crore and generate about 55 lakhs of direct and indirect employment opportunities in the fisheries sector over the next five years.
Latest developments
- TDB-DST enters the new domain and funds its first-ever "Aquaculture" project using "state of the art" Israeli technology for the production of Tilapia Fish".
- TDB-DST supports M/s Fountainhead Agro Farms Private Limited, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra for the "Advanced, Intensive, All Male Tilapia Aquaculture Project with Israeli Technology".
- Realising the potential of the Fisheries sector, the Technology Development Board, a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.
- The board has penned a mutual agreement, to provide loan assistance of Rs. 8.42 crores out of the total project cost of Rs. 29.78 crores to the company.
Tilapia
- Tilapia has emerged to be one of the most productive and internationally traded food fish in the world.
- The culture of tilapia has become commercially popular in many parts of the world and fishery experts have dubbed the tilapia as "aquatic chicken" due to its quick growth and low maintenance cultivation.
- Today, if any fish could be named a global fish, no better name can be thought of than Tilapia.
