The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has listed several inadequacies in the fishing sector which, it said, need to be addressed. A lack of fish seeds is the major hindrance for taking up commercial cultivation, and the state government may consider establishing a multi-species hatchery, the Nabard has suggested in its state focus paper 2023-24, released on Tuesday.
Its other suggestions include addressing land classification issues for shrimp farming, training and awareness about HACCP standards, branding and packaging, and promoting ornamental and brackish water fisheries. It also wants handling of fish on board vessels and at landing centres be hygienic, and fisherwomen engaged in fish trading and retailing be encouraged to form joint liability groups to facilitate banks to extend financing to the groups.
The Nabard’s projection for the next financial year in the fisheries sector is to the tune of Rs 90 crore. The focus paper also points at the need of having comprehensive groundwater development policy for stressed areas such as industrial, coastal, urban, and mining.
The state’s utilisation of groundwater resources at 33% is termed safe, but Nabard wants the Goa government to accord priority to projects aimed at modernisation and strengthening of canals and channels and other structures for efficient use of water, and to bring more acreage under cultivation. In the coastal belt, it has recommended flood protection measures to avoid salinity ingress and to form and activate water users’ associations. Rainwater harvesting needs to be popularised to recharge groundwater and promote renewable sources of energy, the paper stated.
The Nabard has projected the credit projection of Rs 7,100 crore for Goa for the 2023-24 financial year, 5.8% higher than the previous year. The announcement was made at the state credit seminar held on Tuesday, and the state focus paper was released, which is expected to act as an input for the credit and infrastructure planning by bankers and the state government to prioritise allocation of funds for development. Milind Bhirud, general manager, Nabard Goa, said that they have scripted interventions towards expanding the scale of finance, extending concessional credit, forming grassroot institutions, and designing customised financial products.