Fish production in Telangana is likely to touch 3 lakh tonne this year. This has been possible due to the push being given by Government of Telangana. The sector was mainly concentrated in the Andhra region of the undivided State of Andhra Pradesh. However, since Telangana came into being in 2014, focus has been on promoting aquaculture in the water bodies and reservoirs, said Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Secretary Sundeep Kumar Sultania. Speaking at the inaugural Aquaex India 2019 here at the Hitex, he said, the Telangana Government is supplying the fish seed free of cost. In 2016-17, when the programme was started, 27 crore seed was supplied and in 2017-18, the number went up to 51 crore. This year, similar quantity was supplied, he said. Though the fish production is on rise, there is a need to up consumption. In this regard, the Government is extending subsidy for marketing infrastructure as well. It has now introduced an integrated fisheries development scheme (IFDS) with a Rs 1,000 crore allocation. Infra support is extended to the fisherman community. This year itself the Government has distributed 46,000 mopeds to aid in marketing. We will distribute another 20,000 mopeds in the next three months. We have distributed about 3,000 luggage vans in addition to 370 mobile fish outlets with 75 per cent subsidy, Sultania said. The Government is keen on constructing fish markets and more than 500 community halls for use by the fishermen community. To promote aquaculture in the State, it will offer land and water and other facilities depending on the investment proposals. The State will also promote fish processing sector. He asked the Society for Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture, which organised the event, to map the strengths of Telangana in the fisheries segment. MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav said that fisheries will be a major industry once the irrigation projects are completed. Fisheries Commissioner Suvarna, Manage Director General and others were present.