Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to launch the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) today, on September 10. PM Modi will also launch e-Gopala app, a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers. Several other initiatives in the fisheries and animal husbandry sectors in Bihar will also be launched by the Prime Minister on the occasion. The Governor, Chief Minister of Bihar, along with Union Minister and Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, will also join the occasion.
The PMMSY is a flagship scheme of the Government of India which focusses on sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the country. The scheme offers an estimated investment of Rs 20,050 crores for its implementation during a period of five years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories, as a part of the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package.
PMMSY aims at enhancing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonnes by 2024-25, increasing fisheries export earnings to Rs 1,00,000 crore by 2024-25, doubling of incomes of fishers and fish farmers, reducing post-harvest losses from 20-25 percent to about 10 percent and generation of additional 55 lakhs direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in the fisheries sector and allied activities.
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Prime Minister will also announce the establishment of Fish Brood Bank at Sitamarhi, and of Aquatic Disease Referral Laboratory at Kishanganj, for which assistance has been provided under PMMSY. These facilities will help in enhancing production and productivity of fish by ensuring timely availability of quality and affordable fish seed for the fish farmers and address the need for disease diagnosis as well as water and soil testing facilities.
He will inaugurate one-unit fish feed mill at Madhepura and two units of ‘Fish on Wheels’ assisted at Patna under Blue Revolution. He will also interact with the beneficiaries on the occasion.
Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Comprehensive Fish Production Technology Centre at Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar. The Center, with facilities for Seed production technology and demonstration unit technology for fish, referral laboratory and diagnostic testing, will facilitate in boosting fish production and assist in capacity building of fish farmers.
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The PM will also be rolling out the e-Gopala App which is a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers. At present no digital platform is available in the country for farmers managing livestock including buying and selling of disease-free germplasm in all forms (semen, embryos, etc); availability of quality breeding services (Artificial Insemination, veterinary first aid, vaccination, treatment etc) and guiding farmers for animal nutrition, treatment of animals using appropriate ayurvedic medicine/ethnoveterinary medicine. There is no mechanism to send alerts (on the due date for vaccination, pregnancy diagnosis, calving etc) and inform farmers about various government schemes and campaigns in the area. The e-Gopala App will provide solutions to farmers on all these aspects.
(With Inputs from PIB)