Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing the aims and objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, a scheme to bring about a Blue Revolution in India through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector, with an estimated investment of Rs. 20050 crores for holistic development of the fisheries sector, including fisher welfare. The aims and objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana are implemented for five years, from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25, in all states and union territories. From fish production, productivity, and quality to technology, post-harvest infrastructure, and marketing, the aims and objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana are designed to fill important gaps in the fishery’s value chain. 

The aims and objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

Salient Features of PMMSY

• Harness the sector’s potential in a sustainable, responsible, inclusive, and equitable way.

• Increase fish production and productivity by expanding, intensifying, diversifying, and making better land and water use.

• Improve quality by modernising and strengthening the value chain, including post-harvest management.

• Fishers’ and fish growers’ incomes will be doubled, and meaningful jobs will be created.

• Increase the fishing sector’s contribution to agricultural GVA and exports

• Ensure fishers and fish farmers’ social, physical, and economic security

• Create strong management and regulatory framework for fisheries.

Targets

Production and Productivity of Fish

• By 2024-25, fish production will have increased to 22 million metric tonnes, up from 13.75 million metric tonnes in 2018-19.

• Increasing aquaculture productivity from the present national average of 3 tonnes per hectare to 5 tonnes per hectare.

• Increasing per capita fish consumption from 5 kg to 12 kg in the United States.

Addition of Economic Value

• Increasing the fisheries sector’s contribution to agriculture GVA to almost 9% by 2024-25, up from 7.28 per cent in 2018-19.

• By 2024-25, export profits will have doubled to Rs.1,00,000 crores, up from Rs.46,589 crores in 2018-19.

• Facilitating private investment and entrepreneurship growth in the fishing industry.

• Post-harvest losses were reduced from 20 to 25 per cent to around 10 per cent.

Increasing Earnings and Job Creation

• 55 lakh direct and indirect job opportunities will be created along the value chain which is an important salient feature of PMMSY.

• Fishers’ and fish growers’ revenues will be doubled.

Matsya Setu 2.0 App 

The Government of India has decided to launch a mobile app where farmers, wholesalers, buyers, suppliers of feed and equipment, and other value chain members can share information about market prices and product availability to bring inland fisheries trade under a single digital platform. The ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture in Bhubaneswar will build this smartphone app.

Matsya Setu 2.0 will be the name of this app. The National Fisheries Development Board in Hyderabad will provide financing for this app. Based on the geographical location of the stakeholders, the board would also assist freshwater fisheries trading. This software will also focus on the freshwater fisheries trade, giving aqua farmers access to price information and supplier availability based on their area.

Courses Offered

The Matsya setu app will be launched by the government in April 2022. This app will cater to the business-to-business market. The Matsya setu 2.0 app will provide farmers with price information. Online courses will be available through this app. Experts will provide advice on aquaculture, show breeding, and seed production, and learn about commercially important fish such as crab, catfish, and pearl farming through these courses. This concept also included the deployment of an app in July 2021.

This software will be an improved version of the previously released one. The previously launched app included information regarding management methods that must be followed in preserving soil and water quality, feeding, and health management in aquaculture operations. The central government has also set aside Rs 1879 crore for the need for launching the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana in 2022-23, while Rs 1200 crore was set aside under the revised projection for 2020-21.

e-Samadhan Scheme

On August 8, 2021, Mr Mukesh Sahani, the Minister of livestock and fisheries, examined fisheries education, including extension activities at the fisheries college in arrabari, Pothia block. The dean of the institution greeted the Minister and presented thorough information about the college’s current operations and plans. Mr Mukesh Sahani introduced the e-samadhan initiative from the college auditorium, emphasising that the challenges faced by fish farmers will now be overcome. Farmers would be able to address the difficulty of fish farming through communication media under this strategy.

Conclusion

Narender Modi officially launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana over video conference on September 10, 2020, in the presence of the Governor and Chief Minister of Bihar and Union Ministers and Ministers of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy. The government is expected to invest Rs. 20,050 crores in this plan from 2020-2021 to 2024-2025. The proposal includes Rs 12340 crores for beneficiary-oriented initiatives in marine, inland fisheries, and aquaculture and Rs 7710 crores for Fisheries Infrastructure. The administration has established a goal for fish production, which is to reach 15 million tonnes by 2020 as part of the Blue Revolution and reach roughly 20 million tonnes by 2022-23.