Minister for Sheep, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Abdul Ghani Kohli inspected fisheries assets during his visit to Kathua today.Secretary to Government Animal/Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Department R. K Bhagat, Director Fisheries R.K Dogra, Director Animal Husbandry Dr Shams-ud-in Makhhdoomi, Director Sheep Husbandry Dr Kranti Kumar Sharma, Deputy commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar, CPO National Fish Seed Farm Kathua Gopal Krishan, AD fisheries Kathua Pawan Sharma and other officers accompanied the minister during the visit.During his day long visit, the minister visited Cage Culture Project, Satwain in Ranjit Sagar Dam reservoir and inspected the asset set up under pilot project. While inspecting the project the minister said that the Cage Culture of Fishes, being new to the State has been introduced as part of an ambitious programme aimed at standardization of Cage Fish rearing technology for production of stocking material of desired size at a low cost, besides to boost the Fish Culture and utilize the available water resources like Lakes, Reservoirs, etc. He said the scope of cage culture shall be explored to its potential and more such projects will be taken up in coming time.The minister said Department of Fisheries has taken up development of Carp Fisheries & Trout Fisheries besides this, other types of Fisheries viz; Reservoir Fisheries and recreational Fisheries has been also brought under this scheme.
For development of Cold Water Fisheries, the Department has taken up construction of new Trout rearing units and also up-gradation of existing units to increase their rearing and hatching capacity. Besides this, the Reservoir Fisheries (Ranjit Sagar) was also taken up and at present the said reservoir is open to the professional fishermen of the area for fishing on nominal fee.Abdul Ghani Kohli said that state has huge potential for fisheries production and it is the endeavour of the present government to attract more youth to start their ventures in fish farming. He said presently state is importing 30% of the total fish needs which can be meet up by motivating small fish farmers especially youths. He said efforts are afoot to encourage fish farmers who can contribute by opting mix farming with their contemporary agriculture. While interacting with officers the minister called for educating people about several welfare schemes initiated by the government under fisheries, animal and sheep husbandry departments. He directed the officers to organize more awareness camps in rural areas to motivate people to opt fisheries, dairy etc.He said Bani tehsil of Kathua district is ideal for trout fish farm and more projects will be taken up to increase the production in the tehsil.Later the minister also visited National Fish Seed Farm at Kathua and had first hand appraisal of the functioning of the farm.