Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced a subsidy of 50% to give further boost to the production of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (commonly known as Jhinga fish) across the state.A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal while presiding over a meeting with the progressive fish farmers and fishery experts here at Chief Minister’s Residence this morning. Mr. Badal further asked the progressive farmers to set up Shrimp Producer’s Society with fair representation of fish farmers, experts of fishery from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) and officials from the state fisheries department to enhance the Shrimp production on scientific lines.Mr. Badal also directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries) to send the interested fish farmers for training at Indian Council for Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE), Rohtak to learn about the emerging techniques of shrimp production besides the significance of quality water check. Likewise the Chief Minister also impressed upon the Fisheries department to send a delegation of progressive farmers from the state to Andhra Pradesh to update their knowledge about the latest techniques of shrimp production.
Mr. Badal also asked the Department of Fisheries, GADVASU to tie up with the society to check the quality of water on regular basis to ensure maximum shrimp production both in terms of quality and quantity.The Chief Minister also assured the progressive fish farmers that he would soon take up the case of allotting an ICAR-CIFE Centre for Punjab with Government of India to promote fishery in a big way on the pattern of one such Centre already existing in Rohtak (Haryana). Mr. Badal hoped that this Centre would certainly prove to be a milestone in enhancing the fish production as state has a proven track record of the highest fish production in the country. The Chief Minister also gave a nod to the department for the purchase of insulated vehicle for the transportation of shrimp from the fish farms to the nearest fish market outlets. He also directed the Director & Warden Fisheries to tie up with the top most companies to supply quality fish feed and seed to the fish farmers so as to enable them to reap maximum profit out of this business. Mr. Badal hoped that slew of these incentives would help the fish farmers to get remunerative prices for shrimp production as it had a tremendous potential in the domestic market besides immense export value.
The Chief Minister also asked the ACS (Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries) to ensure marketing support to the fish farmers of the state so as to encourage them to adopt fishery as an alternate occupation to get out from the rut of conventional wheat-paddy rotation. He hoped this transformation would help the state to achieve the much needed push towards farm diversification, which was the need of the hour.Mr. Badal also asked the Department of Fisheries to immediately forward the case of progressive fish farmer Mr. Lakhwinder Singh based at village Ratta Khera in Sri Muktsar Sahib District to the state government for honoring him with state level award on the forthcoming Republic day in recognition with his outstanding services towards the promotion of fisheries in the state.Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included; Additional Chief Secretary (Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries) Mr. Mandeep Singh Sandhu, Advisor Animal Husbandry Dr. B.K. Uppal, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. S. Karunaraju, Warden & Director Fisheries Punjab Dr. Madan Lal, Dr. Asha Dhawan, Dean and Dr. Prabhjit Singh, Assistant Professor from College of Fisheries GADVASU, Ludhiana, Scientist Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Rohtak (Haryana) Mr. V Hari Krishan besides several progressive fish farmers from the state.