Chizokho Vero
August 12
KOHIMA (MExN): Improper funding is reported to have resulted in the slow progress of the fishery related activities in Nagaland.
Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Law and Justice Yitachu told The Morung Express that the budget provision of the Fisheries department was meagre for the requirement of the department to pursue the related activities of fisheries in the State.
During the 10th five year plan, Rs. 950.00 lakh was approved while Rs. 290.00 lakh was approved during the annual plan 2003-04 for the department. Rs. 645.00 lakh is proposed for the period 2004-05.
Yitachu said that though the State possessed high potential in fish production, it could not achieve much in terms of production due to financial constraint.
“Whatever activities now undertaken by the department is mostly from loans and Centrally Sponsored Scheme”, Yitachu said.
He was however optimistic that if proper funding and management was there, the State would make drastic improvement in fish production.
It may be recalled that the department is anticipating achieving the production target of 5500.00 ton of fish and 45.00 million fish seed and covering an area of 88.00 hectares of water areas.
Yitachu also informed The Morung Express that the department would organise training courses for farmers in keeping with the declaration of the year 2006 as the Year of Farmers. The training will reach out to the age groups of 20 to 40 years in all 11 districts from February- May next year, he said.
The training aims to impart the farmers with the know-how in fishery activities in a more professional manner and also to imbibe a commercial mind set among Naga farmers.
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