SHILLONG: The state government is still grappling for ways to meet the growing demand of fish in the state as the total annual domestic fish production is only 12, 330 MT as per the figures of 2016-17 while the total requirement of fish for the whole state is 33,000 MT annually.
“The total requirement of fish for the whole state is 33,000 MT annually”, said Fisheries Minister Comingone Ymbon in reply to a supplementary query raised by Congress MLA Zenith Sangma.
Ymbon said that there was a huge gap between the supply and demand of fish and provided figures of the total annual fish production in the state for the last five years.
The year-wise fish production in recent years are recorded as: 5417 MT in 2012-13, 5753 MT in 2013-14, 6040 MT in 2014-15, 11,343 MT in 2015-16 and 12, 330 MT in 2016-17.
Again, Sangma asked on the number of beneficiaries engaged in fish production, and Ymbon informed that there were 22, 529 beneficiaries till date.
Sangma pointed out that few districts have the potential to produce fish as many parts in the state were not conducive for fish farming due to the quality of soil and coal belts.
Again, he asked the Minister on the number of hatcheries present in the state to which Ymbon struggled to find the answer.
He said, “So many, Sir,” to which the Speaker Donkupar Roy said, “How many, so many?” Finally, Ymbon said that there were 26 hatcheries in East Khasi Hills.
Highlighting on the steps being taken to mitigate and overcome deficiency, he informed that existing water bodies were being developed and additional water areas being created to implement the Blue Revolution scheme, Meghalaya State Aquaculture Mission and Convergence based programmes etc.
He added that Fish Farmers Development Agency had been set up to facilitate Fisheries sectors, conserve the native, endangered and traditional species and development of breeding farms.
Again, Ymbon said that mass awareness programmes on fish culture, training and capacity building including exposure visits and skill development were conducted to tap emerging opportunities in the fisheries sector etc.