The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying under central sector component of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has approved two projects (i) National Surveillance Programme on Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) Phase-II with a total cost of Rs.33.8 crores for implementation in all States and Union Territories for a period of 3 years and (ii) Genetic Improvement Programme of Penaeus indicus (Indian white shrimp) Phase-I with a total cost of Rs.25.044 crore under PMMSY. These two programmes were launched on 27^th February, 2023 with the following salient features:

1. National Surveillance Programme on Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) Phase-II

1. To improve the collection of information on the distribution and occurrence of aquatic animal diseases
2. To rapidly detect new and exotic infectious diseases in aquatic animals
3. To implement a national information management system for aquatic animal diseases of national concern
4. To carry out effective active and passive disease surveillance programme in the coastal districts (v)To develop a disease database based on the outcome of surveillance programme for reporting requirements to World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and regional Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Reporting System.

(vi)To create awareness among farmers about the impact of disease and surveillance programme

2. Genetic Improvement Programme of Penaeus indicus (Indian white shrimp) Phase-I

1. To Establish pilot-scale shrimp breeding and domestication facility for Genetic improvement program (GIP)
2. To refine the technology for captive maturation, breeding, seed production and indigenous feed processing for different life stages of the Indian white shrimp.
3. To refine and optimize different farming models of Indian white shrimp with a special focus on eco-friendly sustainable farming with better utilization of input resources.
4. To establish a baseline population after characterizing the genetic diversity, perform short term selection program assessing suitable traits and genetic gains for the genetically improved stock.

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai also brought out an insurance product for shrimp farmers in collaboration with Oriental Insurance Company limited.

India is the third largest fish producing country in the world and one of the largest exporters of farmed shrimps. The export earnings from fisheries including shrimp has registered at Rs.57,586.48 crore in 2021-22.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) reported that as per a study conducted during 2020-21, loss of production in shrimp farming has been estimated as Rs.7200 crore due to various factors including diseases. For early detection of diseases, Government of India under PMMSY is implementing National Surveillance Programme on Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) Phase-II throughout the country. Standard protocols for precautions and control of diseases is already in place and it is disseminated from time to time to shrimp farmers. Further, research programme is taken up by Fisheries Research Institutes of ICAR to developing better diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics to improve disease resilience.

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing various Schemes and programmes to improve fish productivity and better price realisation so as to increase the aqua farmers’ income. Currently the scheme of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is implementing by Department of Fisheries at a total estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crore under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package for a period of 5 years from 2020-21 to 2024-25. Under this scheme, during the last two financial years (2020-21 and 2021-22) and the current financial year (2022-23), the proposals of thirty five States/Union Territories and other Implementing agencies amounting to Rs. 12035.07crore with central share of Rs. 4536.36 crore have been approved by Government of India and central funds of Rs. 2103.42 crore has been released to various States/UTs and other implementing agencies. The activities include expansion of fish cultivation area, infusion of technology and creation of post-harvest infrastructure such as cold chains, markets and transport facilities.

This information was given by Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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SS/RKM