The Union Cabinet has approved the “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana”.

Practice question for Mains:

Q. Only after the Indian Independence, has fisheries together with agriculture been recognized as an important sector. Examine the scope & challenges of aquaculture in India.

About the PMMSY

• The PMMSY aims to bring about the Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India.
• With the scheme, highest ever investment of Rs. 20050 crores are being made in the fisheries sector.
• It will be implemented over a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories.

Aims and objectives of PMMSY

• Harnessing of fisheries potential in a sustainable, responsible, inclusive and equitable manner
• Enhancing of fish production and productivity through expansion, intensification, diversification and productive utilization of land and water
• Modernizing and strengthening of the value chain – post-harvest management and quality improvement
• Doubling fishers and fish farmers incomes and generation of employment
• Enhancing contribution to Agriculture GVA and exports
• Social, physical and economic security for fishers and fish farmers
• Robust fisheries management and regulatory framework

Implementation strategy

The PMMSY will be implemented as an umbrella scheme with two separate components namely:

(a) Central Sector Scheme and

(b) Centrally Sponsored Scheme

• Majority of the activities under the Scheme would be implemented with the active participation of States/UTs.
• A well-structured implementation framework would be established for the effective planning and implementation of PMMSY.
• For optimal outcomes, ‘Cluster or area-based approach’ would be followed with requisite forward and backward linkages and end to end solutions.

Back2Basics: Fisheries sector of India

• Fisheries and aquaculture are an important source of food, nutrition, employment and income in India.
• The sector provides livelihood to more than 20 million fishers and fish farmers at the primary level and twice the number along the value chain.
• The Gross Value Added (GVA) of the fisheries sector in the national economy during 2018-19 stood at 1.24% of the total National GVA and 7.28% share of Agricultural GVA.
• The sector has immense potential to double the fishers and fish farmers’ incomes as envisioned by government and usher in economic prosperity.
• Fisheries sector in India has shown impressive growth with an average annual growth rate of 10.88% during the year from 2014-15 to 2018-19.

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