Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries, Abdul Ghani Kohli along with Minister for Agriculture Production, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today inaugurated a hi-tech trout rearing fish farm at village Nowhar in Char-e-Sharief constituency of Budgam district.The 13 Kanal and 13 marla fish farm is laced with state-of-art infrastructure and would be further augmented with improved equipment, compound fencing and road development. Kohli said the farm would produce 12 tons of the fish once the farm is fully upgraded and functional.He said that the Government was taking several steps to ensure hassle-free entrepreneurship in the fish and poultry farming sectors. He said that under the various centrally-sponsored schemes, the farmers would be provided with ex-gratia on the damage or loss of the production.The Minister said that in private sector of fish farming the government would provide feed to the farmers on the slashed rates. “Despite inflation, in the market, the rates of the feed have been slashed to a very extent for the farmers,” he said.Meanwhile, Minister for Agriculture Production Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said that the Budgam district has huge potential for the fish farming.
He said that youth instead of looking for government jobs should set up fish, poultry or bee colonies for better and progressive livelihood. He said by setting up these units not only they can get jobs for themselves but also for others.Director Fisheries informed the Ministers that there are 500 registered fishermen in the district for whom over 99 houses have been constructed in Budgam.He briefed them that the annual fish production has boosted with 35 trout rearing units and 54 carp units established in the district.District Development Commissioner Budgam, Mohammad Harun Malik, Director Fisheries, RN Pandita, Director Animal Husbandry, Dr Mohammad Yousuf and Assistant Director Fisheries Budgam, Munir Ahmad and officers from Sheep, Animal Husbandry and other concerned Departments were also present on the occasion.