Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: PM Matsya Sampada Yojana
Mains level: Read the attached story
Central Idea
- In 2020, as India’s fisheries sector was gearing up for a transformation through government-initiated reforms, the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to disrupt progress.
- However, PM Modi turned this crisis into an opportunity by launching the Atmanirbhar Bharat package, specifically targeting the fisheries sector.
- This initiative breathed new life into the sector, with a substantial allocation of ₹20,050 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), making it the largest-ever investment in Indian fisheries history.
About PM Matsya Sampada Yojana
| Aim | To catalyze the Blue Revolution in India’s fisheries sector. |
| Investment | Rs. 20,050 crores over five years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25) as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package. |
| Fish Production | Increase fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonnes by 2024-25. |
| Export Earnings | Raise fisheries export earnings to Rs. 1,00,000 crore by 2024-25. |
| Income Doubling | Double the incomes of fishers and fish farmers. |
| Post-Harvest Losses | Reduce post-harvest losses from 20-25% to about 10%. |
| Employment Generation | Generate substantial employment opportunities in the fisheries sector. |
| Aims and Objectives | 1. Sustainable and equitable fisheries development.
2. Increased productivity through diversification. 3. Modernizing the value chain. 4. Income doubling. 5. Boosting exports. 6. Ensuring security for fisheries communities. 7. Effective management. |
| Implementation Components | Central Sector Scheme and Centrally Sponsored Scheme with active state participation. |
| Implementation Approach | Structured framework and cluster-based approach for optimal outcomes |
Key Achievements of PMMSY
- Broad Development Spectrum: PMMSY addressed critical gaps in the fisheries value chain, spanning fish production, productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure, and marketing.
- Strategic Priority Areas: The initiative strategically focused on various key areas, including marine fisheries, inland fisheries, fishermen’s welfare, infrastructure development, post-harvest management, cold water fisheries, ornamental fisheries, aquatic health management, and seaweed cultivation.
- Empowering Youth: PMMSY encouraged young entrepreneurs to venture into fisheries, fostering technological innovation and youth engagement. Notable success stories include young women in Kashmir rearing cold water rainbow trout and aquapreneurs in Nellore becoming successful exporters of biofloc-cultivated shrimps.
- Expanding to Non-Traditional Areas: The program expanded fisheries activities to non-traditional regions, converting saline wastelands into productive aquaculture zones in landlocked states like Haryana and Rajasthan.
- Empowering Fisherwomen: PMMSY empowered fisherwomen to explore alternative livelihoods, such as ornamental fisheries, pearl culture, and seaweed cultivation. The establishment of the ₹127 crore Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu exemplifies this forward-looking approach.
- Infrastructure and Research: The initiative supported the establishment of 900 fish feed plants, 755 hatcheries, and invested in research and genetic improvement of Indian White Shrimp, specific pathogen-free brood stock development, and domestication of tiger shrimp.
Impact on India’s Fisheries Sector
- Global Recognition: India has risen to become one of the world’s top three countries in fish and aquaculture production and stands as the largest shrimp exporter globally.
- Investment Growth: The government’s commitment to the fisheries sector is evident, with recent announcements of ₹6,000 crore as a sub-scheme under PMMSY, totalling investments exceeding ₹38,500 crore over the past nine years.
- Record Production and Exports: India achieved record fisheries production of 174 lakh tonnes in 2022-23, marking a significant increase. Shrimp production alone surged by 267% from 2013-14 to 2022-23, reaching 11.84 lakh tonnes. Seafood exports doubled from ₹30,213 crore in 2013-14 to ₹63,969 crore in 2022-23.
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