AHMEDABAD, (GUJARAT): Receiving high recognition and appreciation at the national level, the Department of Fisheries ranked top among the best-performing districts across all Union Territories of the Country for the vigorous development of fish and fisheries in Jammu and Kashmir.
Anantnag district, which has been privileged with this outstanding achievement, was presented with a trophy and a certificate of merit. The felicitation was conferred on the occasion of World Fisheries Day celebrated at the National level in Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
The event was inaugurated and presided over by Purshotam Rupala, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
The function was attended by the fisheries fraternity of National and International repute.
On the occasion, the Union Minister recognized and appreciated the efforts of the department for the development of Fisheries particularly Cold water in the UT of J&K. He emphasized that the Government of India has launched a number of schemes for the promotion of fish marketing, branding and export under the PMMSY.
He exhorted upon the youth to take benefit of such schemes for the development of market linkage in the form of cold chain to get remunerative prices for their produce.
Pertinently, the Kashmir region of J&K is the epicentre for the development of Cold water Fisheries and under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and the guidance of Principal Secretary, of the Agriculture Production Department, Shailendra Kumar various steps are being taken by the UT government for enhancing the productivity as well as income of Fishers. A special subsidy component has been kept for the UT to attract more farmers to adopt this profitable venture.
Director of Fisheries, Mohammad Farooq Dar, said that the focus of the department is to make farmers more resourceful through the implementation of various schemes for marketing trout and also for export to other States.
Anantnag is at the forefront of Trout Production and a hub of Trout production among all the districts of the country. Besides, the district is traversed by different trout streams being angled by the esteemed anglers both local and foreign and thus an explicit boost to the ecotourism.
Effective implementation of schemes like PMMSY, HADP, FIDF etc envisages the trout production to be doubled during the next five years creating gainful employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth.
World Fisheries Day 2023 was celebrated in all the districts of J&K and the main function was held at the Regional Fish Farmers Development Agency of Jammu Division and Kashmir Division. A large number of fishers participated in the event and witnessed live streaming of the World Fisheries Day event held at Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad Gujarat.
