Nongpoh: Fisheries Minister Comingone Ymbon on Friday inaugurated a modern fish market, the first of its kind in the state, equipped with modern technology at Saiden village in the district.
Construction of the fish market was initiated in 2016 with a project cost of Rs 1.64 crore funded jointly by the National Fisheries Development Board and the state Fisheries department.
The newly inaugurated hi-tech fish market comprises of twenty-two stalls equipped with all modern facilities to preserve fish sourced from various parts of the district. Speaking at the function, Ymbon said the market will uplift the economy of the fish farmers of the district and the state as a whole. He said Nongpoh was chosen as the location for the fish market since Ri Bhoi ranks number one in the state in fish production. He also informed that the state government under the Aquaculture Mission had already completed construction of 18,000 ponds in the state out of the 25,000 ponds required in order for the state to be self-sufficient in fish production.
Umsning legislator, Jason Sawkmie Mawlong joined the minister in urging the fish farmers to meet them personally in case of any grievances they might be facing in the future.
Additional Chief Secretary, KN Kumar said the Aquaculture Mission launch in 2012 has been a huge success with the fish production rising to 12,000 tonnes between 2012 and 2017. He also informed that a new version of the Aquaculture Mission will be launched soon to meet the additional demand for fish in the state.
The inaugural function was also attended by Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner, Rosetta Mary Kurbah, Commissioner Secretary of Fisheries, P Sampath Kumar, Director of Fisheries, AL Mawlong and other officers, fish farming communities of the district and the headman of Saiden village, EK Lapang.
