Seaweed culturing being promoted in a big way: Union minister Dr L Murugan

Hyderabad: Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Information & Broadcasting Dr L Murugan on Sunday visited the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) here to review its activities and to inaugurate a few activities funded and implemented by the Board.

Addressing the media later, the Union Minister said that the culturing of seaweed was being promoted across the country in a big way and steps were taken to identify places where its culturing units could be set up.

"Seaweed culture and cage aqua culture are the new age techniques that the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is actively promoting for empowerment of fishermen, more so women. There is a great demand for seaweed, which has medicinal properties, both in the country and abroad. Seaweed cultivation helps in empowerment of the community," he said. A seaweed economic park was coming up in Tamil Nadu. More such parks would be set up across the country, Murugan added.

He said, "The government is working on strategies to drastically increase earning from fishing. With an eye on boasting fishing activities, the government, under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat, has allocated Rs 20,000 crore for developing, among others, landing centres, fishing harbours, processing units and cold storages. While encouraging new age fishing techniques, the government is supporting inland fishing and also keen on increasing export of fish through various projects proposed under the PMMSY."

Dr Murugan said every fisherman would be given the benefit of Kisan Credit Card soon. The Standard Operating Procedures were being prepared and the proposals were in advance consideration of the Agriculture Ministry. Dr Murugan further said that foundation stone would be laid soon for the five fishing harbours with international standards, as announced in the annual budget 2021-22, proposed at places including Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Paradeep.

Earlier, the Minister virtually launched the giant freshwater prawn hatchery established at College of Fisheries, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Dholi, Bihar under the NFDB-funded project on demonstration of seed production technology of giant freshwater prawn/scampi in Bihar.

The Minister felicitated the award winners of Recipe competition organised by NFDB in connection to Poshan Maah-2021. Among the winners, Shravani from Telangana, who secured 3rd prize, was felicitated by the Minister. He visited the demonstration units and Aquatic Animal Health and Quality Testing Lab established in the NFDB campus.