Principal Secretary for Law & Justice, Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, Y. Kikheto Sema, with Neitho-o Kuotsu, Joint Director, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, at the Fisheries Secretaries Conference 2025 in New Delhi on May 23.
NEW DELHI, MAY 24 (MExN): Nagaland has called for urgent policy reforms in the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), seeking revised cost norms, reintroduction of support for pond renovation, and a region-specific funding pattern to address challenges faced by fish farmers in the North East.
Y Kikheto Sema, Principal Secretary for Law & Justice, Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, Nagaland, raised the issues during the Fisheries Secretaries Conference 2025 and the National Workshop on Harnessing Technology and Innovation in Aquaculture, held in New Delhi on May 23.
Speaking at the conference, Sema said the current central funding of Rs 8.40 lakh per hectare under PMMSY is outdated and does not match the latest NPWD Schedule of Rates, which stands at Rs 25 lakh per hectare. He urged the Union Government to revise the cost norms in the upcoming guidelines.
Highlighting the vulnerability of the North Eastern Region to landslides and floods, Sema proposed the reintroduction of provisions for the renovation and reclamation of old ponds and water bodies, which were part of earlier schemes but are currently missing from PMMSY.
He also advocated for an integrated cluster-based approach for agricultural and allied sectors to boost productivity, ensure better market linkages, and promote Agro-Aqua-Eco-Tourism in rural areas.
The senior official further emphasised the need to include administrative and contingency costs in the scheme, a component present in several other central flagship programmes but currently absent in PMMSY.
Sema flagged the existing 60:40 Central-State funding ratio as a barrier for small and marginal fish farmers in the region, many of whom struggle to meet the state share. He recommended a modified funding pattern of 90:10 or 80:20, similar to other schemes for North East and hill states.
On infrastructure, he requested the setting up of a modern, hygienic fish market in Dimapur, citing poor conditions in existing facilities. He also appealed to the Centre to direct banks and financial institutions to extend active credit support to farmers, entrepreneurs, and cooperatives under the scheme, noting reluctance from lenders in the fisheries sector.
Responding to the submissions, Union Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi assured that all concerns raised would be taken into account in the revised PMMSY guidelines.
Sema was accompanied by Neitho-o Kuotsu, Joint Director, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Nagaland, at the conference.
