Nagaland Fishery Department officials during the foundation stone laying of the Integrated Aqua Park, virtually laid by PM Narendra Modi, at Tzudikong on October 11. (DIPR Photo)
Dimapur, OCTOBER 11 (MExN): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched and laid the foundation stone for 16 major fisheries projects worth over Rs 693 crore across India under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), according to the Press Information Bureau.
Among the new projects, Nagaland will receive an Integrated Aqua Park worth Rs 50 crore, aimed at promoting integrated fish farming systems for sustainable enhancement of fish production and developing training and skill programmes for youth and local entrepreneurs.
The foundation stone for the Integrated Aqua Park was laid at Tzudikong in Mokokchung through a virtual video conference in the presence of Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and A. Pangjung Jamir, MLA & Advisor, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department, Government of Nagaland. The Director of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Rongsennungba and Department officials also participated in the programme.
This is the first Aqua Park in Nagaland, which will serve as a centre for showcasing fisheries-related developmental activities. Its primary focus will be on fish and fish seed production and it is poised to become a transformative force in Nagaland's fisheries sector.
The park will offer a comprehensive resource centre for high-quality inputs and facilitate forward market integration to ensure equitable pricing for fishery products. It will cater to the needs of fish farmers, enabling them to avail of all benefits within Nagaland, and will empower educated unemployed youths to contribute to the development of the fisheries sector.
According to the PIB, the Prime Minister also launched two major schemes in the agriculture sector—PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, with a combined outlay of Rs 35,440 crore. In total, projects worth Rs 5,450 crore were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for additional initiatives worth Rs 815 crore in the agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to support rural livelihoods, Prime Minister Modi said that sectors like animal husbandry, fisheries, and beekeeping are being actively promoted to provide additional income sources, especially for small and landless farmers.
The fisheries projects include seven foundation stone-laying initiatives worth Rs 572 crore and nine inaugurations worth Rs 121 crore. They are expected to strengthen fisheries infrastructure, create employment, boost exports, and contribute to India’s Blue Economy, the PIB stated.
The event saw participation from fishers and fish farmers representing 100 aspirational agricultural districts across the country. Around fifty progressive fish farmers attended the programme, eight of whom interacted directly with the Prime Minister.
