For the first time since Telangana’s formation, fish stock imports from other states have decreased at the Ramnagar fish market, owing to increased pisciculture in the state.
Every day, around 70-100 tonnes are sold at the fish market, with the figure rising to 170-200 tonnes on Sundays and holidays. Andhra Pradesh and other states supply 20-25 percent of this, primarily sea fish and white prawn stocks.
However, the arrival of fish stocks from AP, West Bengal, and Odisha have decreased in the last three to four months. According to Fisheries Commissioner Lachiram Bhukya, it was nearly zero on many days. Normally, stocks are imported from other states during the off-season — July to October — but this year, arrivals have been drastically reduced, he said.
Telangana is the only state in which all suitable water bodies are stocked with adequate quality fish seed, thanks to a 100% grant, boosting production in the state. Apart from that, thanks to Kaleshwaram, water was available all year in the water bodies, he added.
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Outstanding numbers
It was not easy for the landlocked state to produce 3.89 lakh tonnes of fish. Fish production in Telangana has steadily increased from 2.68 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 to 3 lakh tonnes in 2019-20, as acknowledged by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its handbook released on November 19.
Telangana’s Blue Revolution has resulted in massive growth in the fisheries sector, as well as providing jobs for over one lakh fishermen in the state. Fish production has increased from 1.98 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 to 3.89 lakh tonnes in 2021-22. Similarly, the contribution of the fisheries sector to the state GDP has increased from 0.3 percent in 2016-17 to 0.5 percent in 2021-22.
In terms of employment, the number of fish cooperative societies has increased from 4,002 with 2.5 lakh members in 2016 to over 5,000 with 3.5 lakh members. Apart from creating jobs, the state government’s initiatives have assisted over one lakh people in continuing to work in their traditional occupations.
200 customized vehicles designed for dual usage of raw fish sales and ready-to-eat fish food are being provided in the GHMC limits and districts to provide employment opportunities to women groups. The State government also launched a group accident insurance scheme for the benefit of the fishing community in 2014-15. Over time, the incentives and support have resulted in an increase in fish and prawn production.
T Srinivas Yadav, Minister of Animal Husbandry, stated that steps are being taken to increase fish seedling production in the state in order to meet the annual demand.
Speaking at the World Fisheries Day celebrations here on Monday, he said that government centers produced 10 crore fish seedlings this year.
Those interested in establishing fish seedling production centers and building fish ponds would receive full government support.
The Minister announced that a 10-acre wholesale fish market with all facilities would be built at Koheda. A special committee has been formed to resolve disagreements between various fishing societies and fishermen. He said that the committee has addressed issues that have existed for many years.
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