The government will introduce a legislation to ensure the quality of fish and implement up-to-date strategies in fish auction and marketing, said Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma here on Tuesday.
Speaking at the State-level inauguration of National Fish Farmers Day observance, she added that efforts are on to expand fish production substantially. "Currently we are utilising only 20% of the total 68,000 hectares of waterbodies available. Fish farming will be promoted as an intermediate crop and maximum area will be used for the purpose. Increasing the number of Matsya Bhavans is also under consideration,” she said.
The Minister urged panchayats to take initiatives to promote fish farming and ensure the participation of the public in the same. She said the seed Act would be enforced and seeds brought in from other States would be subjected to quality checks to ensure the standard.
The Minister said that more fish feed units would be started providing additional employment in the sector. "Exploiting all possible methods, domestic fish production will be hiked to 80,000 tonnes. Through inland fish farming and by forming farmer agencies a huge difference can be brought in the sector," she said.
M. Naushad, MLA, presided over the function and N.K. Premachandran, MP, delivered the keynote address. The Minister distributed the awards for excellence in fish farming to Pradeep Jacob, Laiju Johny and P.K Sudhakaran. The Chirakkara grama panchayat received the award for aquaculture promotion on the occasion.
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