Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala will address an event to commemorate the occasion of accomplishing three successful years of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implementation, on 15^th September 2023, at Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying will launch a six-month-long outreach initiative of the Department of Fisheries “Matsya Sampada Jagrukata Abhiyan”, aiming for an efficient implementation of the scheme and reaching out to the potential stakeholders so that the eligible beneficiaries can take benefits of the schemes, wherein 108 Matsya Kisan Sammelan under the Abhiyan will be organised across the country from September 2023 to February 2024. The objective is to further aware potential beneficiaries about the scheme and the Abhiyan envisages to reach out to 2.8 Crore Fish Farmers and 3477 coastal villages, for creating awareness about the multifaceted potential of the fisheries sector and how PMMSY can help the fishers and fish farmers. The Abhiyan also aims to disseminate information and knowledge about Nine Years’ achievements and success stories of the Department of Fisheries and its field institutions across the country.

Shri Parshottam Rupala will also inaugurate various projects approved under PMMSY pertaining to production and productivity enhancement, post-harvest infrastructure and other value chain augmentation interventions. The major activity to be highlighted during the celebration of 3^rd Anniversary of PMMSY event shall be inauguration of the Exhibition on Fisheries: Explore innovations, initiatives, and advancements in the fisheries sector showcased by Startups, colleges, universities, Fish FPOs, and Fish Cooperatives. The inaugural session of the event will be followed by sharing of Success Stories under PMMSY, wherein, beneficiaries and fish farmers associated in various fisheries activities will get the opportunity to share their success stories. The program is being organised in hybrid mode and it is expected that more than 20,000 Nos of participants across the country will participate in the event. This is an auspicious event promising to be a landmark occasion, bringing fishers, fish farmers, entrepreneurs other stakeholders, government officials, and enthusiastic participants together from the vibrant fisheries and aquaculture sector. The event intends to showcase the achievements of the PMMSY and various other schemes implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India. The event will also highlight the last nine years’ contribution and achievement of the Central Government for development of Fisheries sector in India.

Minister of State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying & Information and Broadcasting, Dr L. Murugan, Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Tulsi Silawat will give their valuable insights on scheme & development of fisheries sector in the country. Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Joint Secretary, Shri Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Ms. Neetu Prasad, Chief Executive/NFDB, Dr. L. Narasimha Murthy and Deputy Director General (Fisheries), ICAR Dr J. K. Jena will also be present on the occasion. 

Representatives from the Fisheries Department of States/UTs, officials of Department of Fisheries, National Fisheries Development Board, ICAR institutes and other relevant Departments/Ministries, PMMSY beneficiaries, fishermen, fish farmers, entrepreneurs and key stakeholders involved in fisheries sector from across the nation are expected to participate in the event. The Department of Fisheries is organising and the National Fisheries Development Board(NFDB), Hyderabad is coordinating this event.  

Fisheries and aquaculture activities are an important source of food, nutrition and employment generation and is an important source of livelihood for about 3 crore fishers and fish farmers in our country. India is the 3^rd largest fish producing country with about 8% share in the global fish production. Globally, India stands 2^nd in aquaculture production and is one of the top shrimp producing and seafood exporting Nations. During last nine years, the Government of India has taken transformational initiatives for holistic development of fisheries and aquaculture sector.  Some of the key initiatives include stepping up investments in fisheries and aquaculture sector with launch of Blue Revolution Scheme with an investment of Rs. 5000 crore and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with investment target of Rs. 7522 crore followed by Creation of New Ministry for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in June 2019.  

On successful completion of Blue Revolution scheme in March 2020, to consolidate the achievements of Blue Revolution and take fisheries sector to the next level while enhancing production and productivity, strengthening fisheries infrastructure with fishers welfare at the centre, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) was launched on 10^th September,2020 by Prime Minister of India with the vision of fulfilling the objectives of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, with highest ever investment of Rs. 20,050 crores for a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21to FY 2024-25 in all States/UTs. Department of Fisheries is implementing PMMSY for sustainable development of the fisheries sector with an objective of enhancing fish production and productivity, developing infrastructure across fisheries value chain, enhancing domestic fish consumption across the country and importantly prioritising livelihood and welfare of fisher communities.

Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, PMMSY scheme was launched with a focus on addressing critical gaps in fish production and productivity, technology, post-harvest infrastructure, etc. Since 2020-21 to 2023-24 (August 2023) under PMMSY, a total project cost of Rs. 16,924.02 crores have been sanctioned by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India to implement Centrally Sponsored Schemes (Rs.15,335.09 crore) and Central Sectoral Schemes (Rs.1,588.93 crore) covering   35 states/UTs and other implementing agencies. 

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SK/SS/SM