RESUBELPARA, Jan 22: As many as six Fish Retail Outlets were inaugurated in different parts of North Garo Hills on Thursday in commemoration of Meghalaya’s 50th statehood day. The Fish Retail Outlets were inaugurated by Principal Secretary to Government of Meghalaya, I/c Department of Fisheries, Dr Shakil P Ahammed, in the presence of Director of Fisheries, A Mawlong, Superintendent of Fisheries, ER Laloo, EAC, North Garo Hills, LG Momin, FO Headquarter, M Khongjliew, and FO NGH, BR Marak.
While congratulating the proprietors of the outlets, Dr Ahammed stated that the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana was an umbrella programme of the central government under MoFV & D for promotion of blue revolution in the country.
Notably, out of the six retail outlets, five were assisted under blue revolution 2018-19 and one under PMMSY (2020-21), at an estimated cost of Rupees ten lakh each, of which 60% was supported by the government and 40% from beneficiary contribution.
“The outlets are meant for hygienic retail of local fish produced by fish farmers and they also facilitate transportation and tools and equipment for hygienic purposes. The outlets will boost the vital supply chain management and marketing support to fish farmers,” Dr Ahammed said in the inaugural event.
Dr Ahammed also informed that the spectrum of the schemes allows for a cluster-based value chain approach in the sector starting from critical input production (feed & seed), table size fish production, harvest and post harvest infrastructure and marketing infrastructure.
