Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Startup India inaugurated the Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge.
Introduction:
The challenge has been launched with an aim to provide a platform to start-ups within the country to showcase their innovative solutions within the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
To increase aquaculture productivity from the current national average of 3 tonnes to 5 tonnes per hectare, doubling export earnings and reducing post-harvest losses by 25% to 10%, and to address issues in the fisheries value chain. Solutions should be found for this.
The challenge before this sector is to promote the start-up culture and establish a strong foundation of entrepreneurship model, the Department of Fisheries has earmarked Rs.3.44 crore for this challenge.
Related Initiatives:
Establishment of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) during the year 2018-19.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: The program aims to achieve the fish production target of 22 million tonnes by 2024-25. Also, it is expected to create employment opportunities for 55 lakh people.
Blue Revolution: It focuses on creating an enabling environment for integrated and holistic development and management of fisheries for socio-economic development of fishermen and fish farmers.
Extension of Kisan Credit Card facilities to help fishermen and fish farmers meet their working capital needs.
Marine Products Export Development Authority: MPEDA is a nodal coordinating, state owned agency engaged in fish production and allied activities.
Marine Fisheries Bill: The Bill proposes to grant license for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) only to vessels registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
Seaweed Park: Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu will be the hub for quality seaweed based products developed on the hub and spoke model.
Importance of Fisheries Sector:
Fisheries sector plays an important role in the economic and overall development of the country. Referred to as the “sunrise zone”, the fisheries sector has immense potential for equitable and inclusive growth.
India is the second major producer of fish through aquaculture in the world.
India is the fourth largest exporter of fish in the world as it contributes to 7.7% of the global fish production.
Presently this sector provides livelihood to more than 2.8 crore people within the country. Nevertheless, it remains an area with untapped potential.
The Economic Survey of India, 2019-20 estimates that only 58% of the country’s inland potential has been tapped so far.
The overall potential in the fisheries sector provides various opportunities to bring scalable business solutions and maximize profits for fishermen and fish farmers.
Fishing is one of the fastest growing sectors in the primary producing sectors.
However, to realize the true potential of the fisheries sector, there is a need for technological measures to enhance the efficiency and production of the fisheries value chain.
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