In a move aimed at promoting fish farming as a part of state government’s ambitious program of agriculture persification, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced to enhance the subsidy from 40 to 50 percent for setting up new fish farms in the state. Badal took this decision in a meeting with a delegation of Progressive farmers from across the state at Chief Minister’s residence this evening.The Chief Minister also directed the Fisheries department to send more delegations of fish farmers from state to Bhubaneswar in Odisha and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh to study the modern practices and techniques of fish farming there. He also asked the Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries to tie up with the Chinese Embassy in India to arrange tour of atleast 10 progressive fish farmers to study the emerging techniques over there, as China was known for its best fish farming practices in the world.
The Chief Minister also asked the Chairman PSPCL over phone to immediately initiate steps for giving electricity connections to the fish farmers on the priority in order to promote fish farming in a big way. Mr. Badal also called upon the fish farmers’ societies to avail the facilities being extended by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) like provision of nets at 50 percent subsidy and supply of four wheelers (mini trucks) at 90 percent subsidy. He said the Fishery Societies in villages could purchase such vehicles for transporting the fish from the villages to the nearby fish markets, which would not only curtail their transport cost but also enhance their profitability. He also asked the Societies to purchase water testing kits at subsidized rates being provided by the NFDB to check the level of salinity, alkalinity PH, dissolved oxygen, Carbon Dioxide and Amonia.
The Chief Minister also asked the faculty of Fisheries Department from GADVASU to avail of the facility provided by the NFDB for the setting up of soil and water testing and fish disease resistant laboratories. He also asked the Director Fisheries prepare a comprehensive proposal for setting up these laboratories at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Bathinda to educate and motivate fish farmers to adopt new fish farming practices. The Chief Minister further said that two new ultra modern fish markets were being established at Bathinda and Amritsar by the Mandi Board besides a modern fish market already functioning at Ludhiana to provide the state-of-the-art marketing facilities to the fish farmers.
Meanwhile Executive Director of NFDB Dr. P. Paul Pandian assured the Chief Minister that the Board would extend all possible help and support to the state government in order to promote fisheries in a big way.Prominent among who were other present in the meeting Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry Mr. G Vajralingam, Director Fisheries Mr. Vipan Kumar Sud and Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema.