Development of Freshwater Aquaculture

Development of Freshwater Aquaculture

Objectives of the Scheme

The main objectives of the Scheme are to popularize fish farming, creating employment opportunities, diversifying aquaculture practices and provide assistance to fish farmers with a view to create a cadre of trained and well organized fish farmers fully engaged in aquaculture.

Implementing Agencies

State/UT Governments through Fish Farmers Development Agencies (FFDAs).

Target Group/Beneficiaries

Fish Farmers/Fishers including both fishermen and fisher-women and fisheries cooperatives societies.

Pattern of Assistance/Funding

The expenditure towards developmental activities such as construction of new ponds, reclamation/renovation of existing ponds/tanks, inputs (fish seed, feed, fertilizers, manures etc.) for first year fish/fresh water prawn culture, integrated fish farming, running water fish culture, training etc. is being shared on 75:25 basis between Government of India and State/UT Governments. Expenditure on staff salary, maintenance of vehicles, contingencies etc. is born by the respective State/UT Governments.

Year when the Scheme Started     1973-74

Annual Outlay (Central Assistance)

                       Year                                Outlay (Rs. in lakh)
                     2001-02                                    1400.00
                     2002-03                                    1400.00
                     2003-04                                    1400.00

Eligibility Conditions

All Fish Farmers/Fishers including both fishermen and fisher-women and members of fisheries cooperative societies. Assistance is given to individual or group of fishers.

Physical Targets

Operational FFDAs in the country will bring additional 1.50 lakh ha of water area under scientific freshwater aquaculture during the Tenth Plan.

Procedure for Applying

Applicant has to apply to the district level/regional level FFDAs. All applications are scrutinized and considered by FFDAs. Eligible cases are recommended by the agencies to the respective State Governments.

Application Form   Available with the district level/regional level FFDAs.

Achievements

Since inception of the scheme, till 2001-02, these agencies have brought about 6.0 lakh ha water area under scientific fish culture and trained 6.99 lakh fish farmers/fishermen in improved practices of fish farming. The number of beneficiaries covered under the programme is about 10.40 lakh. Due to introduction of improved technology of fish farming and the efforts of FFDAs, the national average productivity of tanks and ponds has increased and it is about 2200 kg/ha/year at present.

Remarks

This is an ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme being implemented by the States/UTs through 429 FFDAs in the country. Almost all the potential districts of the country have been covered under the scheme. The FFDAs are registered bodies and the Registrar of Societies makes their registration in the respective states. The Fisheries Department services the FFDAs. At the district level, a management committee manages each FFDA with the Deputy Commissioner/Collector/Zila Panchayat Head of the concerned district as the Chairman. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is a technical officer from the Fisheries Department of the state act as the Member Secretary.

Training to the beneficiaries is provided by the FFDAs. Assistance to an individual beneficiary is provided up to 5 ha water area in the plain areas and 1 ha in the hill states/districts in one go or in phases. Individuals are also helped by FFDAs in formulation of their applications for loan, which is provided by the banks. Even the loan cases of beneficiaries are pursued by the concerned FFDAs. Subsidy amount is also released to the beneficiaries by the concerned banks on the recommendation of FFDAs.

For further details contact
FFDAs at district/regional level as the case may be.