| FISHERIES |
7.1.0.
|
Assam
is bestowed with enormous Water resources covering as much as 3.65
lakh hectares of water spread areas. This constitutes about one twelfth
of the Country’s Inland Water resources. The category wise Water
resources available in Assam is shown in Table-7.1. |
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The
potential for development of pisciculture in the State can be gauged
from the fact that there are over 25,837 hectares of Ponds and Tanks
and 26,421 hectares of Swamps or Low Lying Areas which can easily
be developed for Scientific Fish Culture with less investment. Pisciculture,
now–a-days has become an important remunerative source of income
with comparatively less investment with proper development. Fishery
sector can play an important role in augmenting the State’s
economic development. Although over the years various steps have been
taken for development of this sector the situation however has not
improved to the desired extent. As a result, the State continues to
be deficit in fish production against the requirement. |
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| FISH PRODUCTION |
7.1.1
|
Assam
being a predominantly fish consuming State, the demand for fish is
very high in the State. The present requirement of fish in the State
is estimated at about 2.73 lakh tonnes per year whereas production
level is estimated to be 1.65 lakh tonnes only. Thus, there exist
a gap between demand and production of fish. As per data available
from the State Fishery Department, the fish production has increased
from 161450 tonnes in 2001-2002 to 165521 tonnes in 2002-2003 thereby
registering an increase of 2.52 percent. |
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| FISH SEED PRODUCTION |
7.1.2
|
According
to information made available by the Directorate of Fisheries, Assam
the State has attained self-sufficiency in respect of Carp seed production
in the stage of fry. Adequate availability of genetically improved
actual stocking material i.e. ‘FINGERLING’ of size range
125 to 150 mm is however yet to be achieved uniformly throughout the
State in appropriate proportion during proper season for stocking.
The Fish seed and Fish production in Assam are shown in table
7.2. |
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| SCHEMES FOR DEVELOPMENT |
7.1.3
|
The
Department of Fisheries, Assam, has been implementing a number of
development programmes to increase fish production in the State. The
important programmes are summarized below. |
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1. AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT UNDER FISH FARMER DEVELOPMENT
AGENCY |
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It
is a centrally sponsored scheme with 75 per cent of funding for development
component being shared by the Government of India. The scheme aims
at development of Pond and Tank Fisheries through involvement of Fish
Farmers by providing them with short duration training on modern fish
culture practices and with financial assistance in the form of Grants-in-aid
and Bank loan. All the 23 Districts in the State have been covered
under this programme. The Government has proposed an amount of Rs.201.00
lakh for the year 2003-2004 as State share and the physical achievement
of the scheme for the year 2002-2003 is as follows. |
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(a) Farmers benefited through training –549
nos.
(b) Water area developed – 148.94 hectare. |
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2. RECLAMATION OF DERILICT WATER BODIES |
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This
scheme aims at developing reclaimable low-lying derelict water bodies
into Cultivable fishery in the State. Under this scheme, it is proposed
to engage poor people belonging to Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes
and General Category through subsequent management by Local Committee.
Inputs and Extension Services are provided by the Department along
with provision of training on Fish Culture Practices to the concerned
people. An amount of Rs.100 lakh was proposed for the year, 2002-2003. |
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3. PROGRAMME UNDER WORLD BANK AIDED ‘ASSAM RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
AND AGRICULTURAL SERVICES PROJECT.’ |
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For
augmentation of fish production and improving Socio-Economic condition
of the people below poverty line, the Department of Fisheries, Assam,
secured World Bank assistance under the project titled “ASSAM
RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SERVICES PROJECT (ARIASP)”
with a fund provision of Rs.2837.40 lakh for a period of 8 years from
1995-96. Development of Pond and Tank Fisheries, Beel and Open Water
Fisheries, infrastructure development, training of farmers and officers,
demonstration projects along with fish health care are the main programme
under ‘ARIASP’. An amount of Rs.113.00 lakh is proposed
for the year, 2003-2004. |
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7.1.4
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Besides
the Department of Fisheries has proposed to implement the following
new schemes during 2003-2004. |
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(i) DEVELOPMENT Of WATER LOGGED AREAS AND DERELICT
WATER BODIES INTO AQUACULTURE ESTATE |
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Enormous
fisheries resources in the form of Beel Fisheries, Derelict Water
Bodies, Swamp Area etc. are available in Assam. The development programmes
so far taken for Beel fisheries and Derelict Water Bodies under various
schemes covered only 7 to 8 per cent of the existing resources of
about 1.26 lakh hectare. It is, therefore, proposed by the Department
to take up development of small Beels and Derelict Water bodies in
the range of 2 to 10 hectare water area into aquaculture estates covering
a water spread area of 1000 hectares during the Tenth Five Year Plan.
An amount of Rs.100.00 lakh is proposed for he year 2003-2004 at 100
per cent Central share. |
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(ii) PROGRAMME FOR AUGUMENTING PRODUCTIVITY OF RESERVOIR |
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The
State of Assam is having only 1713 hectares of Water spread area under
Reservoir. The Beel Fisheries area in the State covers 1.00 (one)
lakh hectare, out of this the large Beels in the range of 200 hectares
and above numbering 16 cover an area of about 4600 hectares approximately.
The potential of these large Beel fisheries could not be harnessed
so far, as no development effort could be taken up due to financial
constraints. Under the programme for augmenting productivity of reservoir
a sum of Rs.5.00 lakh has been earmarked for the year, 2003-2004 as
100 per cent Central Share. Implementation of this programme is expected
to help in increasing fish production besides generating self-employment
opportunities to some extent. |
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(iii) SAVING CUM RELIEF SCHEME (SCRC) |
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The
objective of SCR scheme is to provide financial assistance to the
fishermen during the lean fishing period. The rate of contribution
by the fisher folk is Rs 75.00 per month for a period of 8 months.
This contribution is matched by a contribution share equally by Central
and State Government. The accumulated amount will be distributed among
the fishermen in three equal installments at the rate of Rs.300.00
per month. |
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A
sum of Rs.3.80 lakh is proposed as 50 per cent State share with equal
amount of as Central share during the year, 2003-2004. |
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The
physical targets under different schemes/items proposed for the annual
plan 2003-2004 are shown in table 7.3. |
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| 7.1.5. |
The
District-wise detail of Seed producer/Grower of Assam is given in
table 7.4 |
