SHILLONG : Meghalaya’s Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, HDR Lyngdoh asserted that people in the state are more interested in fishing competitions rather than in production of fish.
He was speaking at the seminar on Multiplying Farmers’ Income: Opportunities in Animal Husbandry and processing of organic pig and fish products- Potential for exports- Focus North East at Shillong Club on Friday.
Asking the department to take the matter regarding fish production seriously, he said, “It seems farmers are not interested in production of fish but interested in other ways of earning as they are more into fishing competition.”
Arguing that farmers are not focus on production aspect of fish but the other way round, he went on to add that cash prizes for fishing competition run as high as Rs 1 lakh.
Speaking on the occupation of the people in the state, Lyngdoh said that agriculture and allied activities are the main occupation of the people in the state with nearly 80 per cent of its total population whose livelihood is dependent in this sector.
However, the minister also informed that the growth of livestock and poultry population during the period of 2007 and 2012 has not shown much increase except in goats and poultry sectors registering an increase of 22.60 per cent and 14.55 per cent respectively.
“Although pig farming is the most preferred activity of the farmer yet the increase during the period stood at 7. 90 per cent whereas cattle is at only 2.25 per cent,” he added.
