The Fishery Department of the Assam Government mostly depends on fish coming from different states and countries. The fish prices are not regulated as there is no proper policy in the department. But the department claims it can be self-sustained or dependent by 2026 if it receives an estimated ₹3997 crore from various funding agencies. A senior official of the Fishery Department talking to G Plus on condition of anonymity said that there are various challenges to being self-sufficient in fish production.
“To be self-sufficient by 2026, the department requires ₹3997 crore according to an estimation made during the Chintan Shivir held in Kaziranga recently,” said the official, adding that at present, there are various challenges the department is facing to be self-dependent. By 2026, the department targets to be self-sufficient in fish production, for which all infrastructures will be, strengthened. The department aims at the utilisation of resources in an effective and sustainable manner, said the official.
There are many challenges that the department is facing at present that includes the non-availability of quality fish seed, poor hatchery management, less fish seed production, shortage of quality fish seed, etc. The official mentioned that the under-utilisation of water is also a cause of concern. Periodic natural calamities and acid soil and water conditions are also the challenges the Fishery Department is facing, the official said. Regarding modern technology adoption, modern aquaculture technologies like cage culture, RAS, Pen, biofloc etc are yet to penetrate the fish sector in Assam.
The state also lacks proper live fish transportation and cold storage facilities. Looking at the challenges the department prepared an action plan for which ₹3997 crore is required for the development of the fisheries in the state. To increase fish seed production, fish seed hatcheries and seed multiplication centres need to be developed. Quality brood banks also need to be developed, and for this, the Fishery Department requires ₹72 crore. ₹100 crore is required by the department for the adoption of modern technologies. Another ₹125 crore is required for enhancing fish feed production which includes subsidy, capital availability to entrepreneurs for feed mills, and making raw materials available for all.
An estimated cost of ₹200 crore is required for post-harvest management, like the establishment of a live fish carrier system, storage, processing and value addition. Finally, an estimated ₹3500 crore is required for optimum utilisation of the availability of water resources. It needs to be mentioned that in the last five years the Fishery Department was successful in some ventures outgoing fish increased by 145 per cent, fish seed production increased by 165 per cent, per capita consumption increased by 23 per cent and fish production increased by 36 per cent. Despite the achievements, the department is still not self-dependent and a huge amount of fish, and fish feed is imported from other states and countries.
The Fishery Department in Assam does not have any proper policy to check fish prices, and incidents of fish smuggling from other states and countries have increased in the state. The prices of fish vary from market to market in Guwahati and there is no regulation across Assam as well. It needs to be mentioned that Assam produced 3.93 lakh MT of fish in 2020-21 while the fish production in 2021-22 is around 4.32 lakh MT. Yet, Assam has to import 12-15 MT of fish every day from other states to meet its daily fish requirement. Of all the fish that is imported, some are brought legally and some are smuggled, creating a price difference in the markets.
The Departmentally Related Standing Committee (DRSC) of the Assam Legislative Assembly submitted its report on the smuggling of fish in April 2022, but till now the policy by the Fishery Department has not been formulated. So if the state has to become self-dependent on fish production by 2026, ₹3997 crore needs to be invested. The department is seeking externally-aided projects and investments from Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and Rural Infrastructural Development Fund.