PM launches Matsya Sampada Yojna in Bihar

New Delhi, September 10 (HS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched ‘Matsya Sampada Yojana’, ‘e-Gopala App’ and several initiatives linked to studies and research in fisheries production, dairy, animal husbandry and agriculture in Bihar through video conferencing.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said that efforts were being made to rope in all villages in the country as engines of growth and helping them make India Self-Reliant.

He said it was being launched in 21 States of the country with an investment of Rs 20,000 Crores which would be spent in the next 4-5 Years. Out of this, projects worth Rs 1700 crores were launched today.

Under this scheme many facilities were inaugurated in Patna, Purnia, Sitamarhi, Madhepura, Kishanganj and Samastipur.

The Prime Minister said the scheme provides new infrastructure, modern equipments and access to new markets to the fish producers, along with increased opportunities for through farming as well as other means.

This is the first time when such scheme in the fisheries sector has been launched in the country.

The Prime Minister further said that keeping in mind the importance of the sector and in order to exclusively deal with various issues concerning fisheries, a separate Ministry has been created in the government.

The goal is also to double fish exports in the coming 3-4 years. This will create millions of new employment opportunities only in the fisheries sector, PM said.

The PM said that much of the fish farming depends on the availability of clear water and the Mission Clean Ganga will further help. He added the fisheries sector is also set to benefit from the work being done on river transport in the areas around Ganga river. The mission Dolphin announced on August 15 this year will also have its impact on the fisheries sector.

The PM lauded the work done by the Bihar govt in provided safe drinking water  supply to every household. He said that in 4-5 years back 2% houses in Bihar had water supply connections and now more than 70 percent households in Bihar have access to clean drinking water. The Prime Minister said the efforts of Bihar Government were getting further support from Jal Jeevan Mission of Govt of India.

He said that even in this time of Corona, about 60 lakh houses in Bihar had been ensured tap water and this is a really big achievement. He said this only shows how work in villages continued despite the pandemic when almost everything in the country stopped. He said that it was the strength of our villages that despite the corona, grains, fruits, vegetables and milk continued to come to the mandis, to the dairies without any shortage.

He said this work was also praiseworthy because Bihar also faced floods bravely . He said that both the state government and the central government had taken efforts to complete relief work at a fast pace.

The PM said that the government was constantly making efforts to expand the country’s dairy sector like making new products, new innovations, so that the farmers and cattle breeders get more income.

“Along with this, the focus is to improve the quality of livestock in the country, to maintain their cleanliness and health and access to nutritious food,” PM Modi said.

He further said, “With this goal a free vaccination campaign is launched today to vaccinate more than 50 crore livestock from the foot and mouth disease and brucellosis. Provisions have also been made under different schemes for better fodder to animals. Mission Gokul is underway to develop better indigenous breeds in the country. A countrywide artificial insemination program was started a year ago, Phase I has completed today.”

The Prime Minister said that clusters of food processing industries and research centres should be set up near villages to achieve the motto of Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan and Jai Anusandhan.

The Prime Minister said that the Central Government has set up a Rs 1 Lakh Crore Agriculture Infrastructure Development Fund for creating special infrastructure and providing support to FPOs, Cooperative Groups to develop storage, cold storage and other facilities. Even Women’s SHGs were getting good support and the support had increased 32 times in the last 6 years.