SHILLONG, June 2: Union Minister of State (MoS) for Fisheries, Dr. L Murugan, has suggested the locals to purse fish farming and generate employment opportunities. The Union MoS, who is on a two-day visit to Meghalaya, said this during his interaction with farmers at a fish farm in Umeit village, Ri-Bhoi.
Earlier, the MoS took stock of fish farming sites and interacted with fish farmers and beneficiaries of various government schemes.
Dr. Murugan also held discussions with fish farming trainees at the Meghalaya State Fisheries Research and Training Institute at Mawpun Kshaid, Ri-Bhoi. He also visited a site in Umiam Lake as part of the inspection.
Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, the MoS said that since Independence, only Rs 3,000 crore has been invested in the fishery sector. “After the BJP government came to power, the blue revolution was brought and Rs 5,000 crore was invested in fishery sector, another investment of Rs 7,500 crore was also made and even under Atmanirbhar Bharat, our sector got Rs 20,000 crore,” he said.
The MoS also said that special projects worth Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned in Meghalaya where 70 species of fish are being produced.