Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 1
The state’s department of fisheries has been assisting fish farmers through supply/distribution of fast growing compatible major carp seeds at 50% subsidized rates so as to augment more fish production in the state.
This was stated in the annual administrative report 2017-18 of the fisheries department tabled at the just concluded first session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly here.
During the annual plan 2017-18, a sum of Rs. 30 lakh was incurred to procure about 13 million fish seedlings to cover an area of 1300 ha.
Side by side, compatible prawn seeds (post larvae) produced through artificial seawater in vitro conditions at Nathanglu Prawn hatchery, Mokokchung are being successfully propagated to a large section of pisciculturists for monoculture or polyculture practices.
During the annual plan 2017-18, a sum of Rs. 5 lakh was incurred for breeding of prawn seeds at Nathanglu Prawn hatchery Mokokchung, the report stated.
Further, the department carried out induced breeding programme for the year 2017-18 for which an amount of Rs. 5 lakh has been incurred.
Fishery sector in Nagaland has witnessed a notable growth from a subsistence traditional activity to a diversified economic activity.
Over the years, the department has implemented various successful schemes to bridge the huge demand-supply gap of fish production by implementing farmer centric programmes in the state, the report stated adding that the fisheries sector has been playing a pivotal role in the economic development by virtue of its potential contribution to employment generation, income augmentation, addressing food and nutritional security concerns etc.
The department focuses towards achieving a level of self sustenance of fish production through fuller utilization of available resources, ensuring responsible fishing and sustainable fisheries, efficient application of technologies and strengthening the domestic marketing system.
During the current annual plan 2017-18, sector outlay of Rs. 250 lakh has been allocated for implementing the ongoing state plan and negotiated loan programmes.
Out of the total outlay, an amount of Rs 100 lakh was earmarked for state plan programmes and an amount of Rs 150 lakh was allocated for negotiated loan under NABRAD.
The department envisages local production to about 8990.5 MT and in addition, a bulk quantity of 3700- 3750 MT fish may be supplemented from outside the state to meet the demand of the fish consumption.
The available fish consumption could achieve a per capita consumption of 6.43 kgs only, which is much below the nutritional requirement of 11kg per capita consumption as per WHO recommendation, the report stated adding “Thus, there exists a huge demand –supply gap in the state as far as fish production is concerned.”
The average productivity level of fish envisaged to achieve from ponds, paddy-cum-fish culture (earthen and semi-permanent embankment) and reservoir fisheries is 2150, 355, 500 and 158 kgs/ha/year respectively.
